Lettuce Wrap

Let us introduce you to our new favorite low-carb, high-protein recipe. If you follow us on social media you know we've been on a wellness journey, involving fueling our diet with simple, satisfying, nutrient-dense meals. This lettuce wrap has been a go-to for our lunchtime; it’s so straightforward and quick to make. We use crunchy, crisp-from-the-fridge lettuce as a zero-carb alternative to bread and load it with our favorite sandwich fixings: cheese, lean meat, and tangy pickles.

What stands out

This sandwich is gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein and endlessly customizable to be vegetarian, dairy-free, whatever you need. The key to keeping it interesting: a mix of crunchy, creamy, zesty fillings and flavorful condiments. Our go-to’s are pickles, red onion, cheese, turkey, sriracha, and honey Dijon but you can fill these wraps with any of your favorite fillings. The lettuce here serves as an alternative to bread and wraps; no, sadly, lettuce does not taste like bread BUT it does have a satisfying crunch and adds freshness. You’ll be fueled and energized after enjoying this for a meal.

How to Prepare This Lettuce Wrap

Lay out a large piece of parchment paper onto a cutting board. In the center of the parchment paper layer the romaine leaves slightly overlapping the leaves. All the stems should be facing you.

Now combine the mayo and Sriracha and spread a bit onto each leaf, along with the mustard.

Add the toppings: turkey slices, cheese, pickles, and onions on top.

Rotate the parchment paper 90 degrees so the stems of the lettuce leaves are horizontal to you.

Then gently roll the lettuce to form a wrap. Twist each end of the parchment paper, so that the contents are wrapped like a candy. Next, using a large knife cut the wrap in half.

Finally, you can slide or rip the parchment paper down as you enjoy your low carb lettuce wrap!

Kitchen tip

Make sure your lettuce is crisp and fresh: soggy leaves will do you no favors in this recipe. If your lettuce is looking a little wilted, soak the leaves in ice water for 5 to 10 minutes. It should perk up and regain its crunch.

Swaps

1. Feel free to use any other toppings such as tomatoes, banana peppers, olives, or sprouts
2. Vegetarian? Try this with hummus or a black bean spread, as well as avocado
3. You can use any cold cuts you like here, though we prefer options like ham, turkey, chicken, and roast beef over cured meats, like salami and prosciutto.
4. Avoid toppings that are wet or juicy, such as burrata, cottage cheese, or salsa. Opt instead for firm cheeses such as Swiss, cheddar, or provolone.
5. Use your favorite condiments—truffle mayo, chili pepper spread, ranch dressing…

Serve it with

• What is a sandwich without some crunchy chips on the side? Keep it healthy with some straightforward Kale Chips.
• Homemade mayonnaise can be made in under 5 minutes and tastes so much better than the stuff on the grocery shelves.
• Mayo lovers who do not eat eggs can enjoy this version of Egg Free Mayo in or alongside their wrap.
• Watermelon Fries are a cute, fun way to serve up a side of fruit. Kid and adult approved!

Questions

Can we make this dairy-free?

Certainly! Just use your favorite dairy-free cheese or no cheese at all.

How do we make this vegan or vegetarian?

Swap out the turkey for a plant-based deli meat OR use slabs of marinated tofu. Hummus and other bean spreads are a nice alternative for cheese.

Can we make this ahead? Does this pack well for lunch?

These are best enjoyed fresh so the lettuce retains its crispness. We would not make these more than 1 hour in advance.

How can i make this egg-free? We can’t eat mayo

No problem, you can use vegannaise instead. We have an excellent strong a egg-free mayo recipe.

Where do i find pickled red onions?

You can purchase jarred pickled red onions at the store, but they are so straightforward to make strong a homemade.

Ingredients

Makes 1 servings

• 4 Romaine Leaves
• 1 tablespoon mayo
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or any hot sauce of choice
• 1 teaspoon Honey Dijon Mustard
• 4 slices turkey breast
• 1 slice Havarti, or any cheese you like (provolone is another good choice)
• 3 slices pickle
• pickled red onions

Equipment

• Chefs Knife
• Cutting Board
• Parchment Paper

Method

1. Lay out a large piece of parchment paper onto a cutting board. In the center of the parchment paper, layer the romaine leaves, slightly overlapping the leaves. All the stems should be facing you.
2. Now, combine the mayo and Sriracha and spread a bit onto each leaf, along with the mustard.
3. Add the turkey slices, cheese, pickles, and pickled onions on top.
4. Rotate the parchment paper 90 degrees so the stems of the lettuce leaves are horizontal to you. (You won’t be able to roll the wrap starting from the bottom of the stem moving upwards so make sure you rotate the parchment paper so that the leaves are horizontal to you.)
5. Gently roll the lettuce to form a wrap. Twist each end of the parhcment paper, so that the contents are wrapped like a candy. Next, using a large knife, cut the wrap in half.
6. You can slide or rip the parchment paper down as you enjoy your low carb lettuce wrap!