Spicy turkey lettuce tacos (Print Version)

Lean turkey in crisp lettuce leaves paired with a refreshing mango slaw for a flavorful meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 lb lean ground turkey
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 1 tbsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
13 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
14 - Juice of 1/2 lime

→ Mango Slaw

15 - 1 large ripe mango, peeled and julienned
16 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
17 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
20 - Juice of 1 lime
21 - 1 tbsp honey or agave syrup
22 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
23 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Serving

24 - 12 large butter or romaine lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry
25 - Lime wedges (optional)
26 - Extra cilantro (optional)

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine mango, red cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onions. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, rice vinegar, and salt. Pour dressing over the slaw and toss well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño, and sauté for 1 minute more.
03 - Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and mix well. Pour in chicken broth and cook for another 3-4 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken. Squeeze in lime juice, stir, and remove from heat.
05 - Spoon spicy turkey mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf. Top generously with mango slaw.
06 - Garnish with extra cilantro and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • These come together in under 40 minutes, perfect for weeknights when you want something that tastes like you tried harder than you actually did.
  • The contrast of spicy turkey against cool, fruity mango slaw keeps your palate genuinely excited with every bite.
  • You'll feel genuinely nourished rather than deprived, which is the whole point of eating this way.
02 -
  • Don't let the turkey cook past six minutes once you add it; lean meat dries out quickly and becomes grainy rather than tender.
  • The mango slaw needs to be made ahead and chilled, which means you can actually have everything ready before you start cooking the turkey, a small detail that makes the whole process feel less frantic.
03 -
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking; once you begin, everything moves quickly and you don't want to be chopping garlic while turkey is sitting in the pan.
  • If your mango isn't perfectly ripe, the slaw won't taste nearly as good, so buy one that's soft to a gentle squeeze and fragrant at the stem end.
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