Skinny Spicy Turkey Lettuce Tacos (Printable Copy)

Lean turkey filling and fresh mango slaw wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a light meal.

# What You Need:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 pound lean ground turkey
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons 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 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
22 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
23 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Serving

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

# How to Make:

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, approximately 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, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and mix well.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken. Squeeze in lime juice, stir, and remove from heat.
06 - Spoon spicy turkey mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf. Top generously with mango slaw.
07 - Garnish with extra cilantro and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that satisfying taco experience without the heaviness of traditional shells or tortillas, which means you can actually enjoy a second helping guilt-free.
  • The mango slaw brings this unexpected sweetness and tang that makes the spicy turkey sing in ways you won't see coming.
  • Everything comes together in under forty minutes, so you can have dinner on the table before the evening really starts.
02 -
  • Pat your lettuce leaves completely dry before using them, because any excess water will make them fall apart and dilute the whole experience into a soggy mess.
  • Taste the turkey filling before you finish cooking it because the strength of different brands of spices varies wildly, and you might need to add more or dial it back based on your own heat preference.
03 -
  • If your mango isn't quite ripe when you buy it, let it sit on the counter for a day or two because a soft, juicy mango makes all the difference in how the slaw tastes and feels.
  • Toast your spices in the pan for about thirty seconds right before adding the turkey if you want an extra depth of flavor that feels restaurant-quality and impressive.
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