Turkey Lettuce Cups

In a constant quest to eat healthy and low calorie, I am always trying to find dinner ideas that are tasty.  The weather also has such a profound affect on what seems appetizing to me.  When it is hot, I do not want anything heavy, but at the same time I might be starving.  When it is cold I want something warm and comforting, but not overly caloric.  Summer in the desert is especially hard, when it is so hot you can't imagine eating anything remotely hot or heavy.  

When I came across this recipe for Lettuce cups, it seemed like the perfect answer to dinner at the end of a 98 degree day.  I used ground turkey instead of chicken breasts because it cooks quicker and is lower in calories.  Less time in front of a hot stove is key in this weather.  The cool, crunch of the lettuce provided the perfect compliment to the warm, sweet and sour turkey mixture.  I left feeling satisfied and not stuffed.  Brian on the other hand ate a 4 person serving size so I can't say the same for him.  He still managed to knock back 3 low calorie ice cream bars.... 

Turkey Lettuce Cups

Adapted from Guy Fieri, removed some ingredients to adjust calorie and fat content

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil

2 carrot, diced

2 celery ribs, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cup snap peas, diced

1/2 cup red onion, diced

1 package ground turkey, lowest fat possible

6 ounces Apricot Sambal Szechwan Sauce, recipe follows

Iceberg Lettuce Leaves

2 tablespoons scallions, sliced

Directions

In a medium saute pan over high heat, add oil.  Add vegetables and turkey, saute till turkey is almost done.  Deglaze with sabal sauce for 30 seconds.

Scoop turkey mixture into lettuce leaves and garnish with sesame seeds.

Apricot Sesame Sambal Sauce

1/2 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons minced garlic

3 tablespoons minced ginger

3 tablespoons sambal hot sauce 

3 tablespoons apricot preserves

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon minced cilantro

2 teaspoons sesame seeds

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Mix well.

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has a great weekend!