Turkey Lettuce Wraps – 158 calories per serving!

Turkey Lettuce Wraps from Justine Pattison reminds me of going to a Chinese restaurant with my parents as a kid. I loved spare ribs, prawn toast and seaweed but they took a back seat when I discovered mince meat wrapped in lettuce leaves – it was even yummier with the added advantage that it didn’t leave me with barbecue sauce smeared all over my chops, fingers and shirt.

As a replica dish, this recipe is superb and only 158 calories per serving. So quick, so easy and so scrumptious it has been one of my favourite lunches of lockdown. I can serve and enjoy it hot with my wife and son at the table where we can pick at the food and help ourselves. Enjoy.

Recipe: Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Calories: 158 calories per serving

Serves: 4

Book: Justine Pattison: Without the Calories – quick and easy

Prep time: Approx 5 mins

Cooking time: Approx 10 mins

Ingredients: oil for spraying or brushing, 500g turkey or chicken breast mince, 15g chunk fresh root ginger (peeled and finely grated), 8 spring onions (trimmed and thinly sliced), 1 long red chilli thinly sliced (deseed first if you like), 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp thai fish sauce (nam pla), 1 iceberg lettuce (leaves separated) or 3 little gem lettuces, lime wedges for squeezing

Cost per portion: Approx £1.49

Method: Spray or brush a large non-stick frying pan or wok with the oil and place over a high heat. Add the turkey or chicken mince and cook for 3 minutes, using two wooden spoons to break up the meat as it cooks.

Stir the ginger, spring onions and chilli into the pan and fry the mince for a further minute or until the turkey or chicken is cooked – it should be completely white with no pink remaining. Add the soy sauce and fish sauce and toss them through the mince. Tip everything into a bowl.

To serve, scoop the hot mince mixture into the lettuce leaves, squeeze over a little lime juice and eat with your fingers.