Lettuce Wrap
on Jul 30, 2024, Updated Jan 28, 2026
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Let me introduce you to my new favorite low-carb, high-protein recipe. If you follow me on social media 📱, you know I’ve been on a wellness 🦾 journey, involving fueling my diet with simple, satisfying, nutrient-dense meals. This lettuce wrap has been a go-to for my lunchtime; it’s so easy and quick to make. I use crunchy, crisp-from-the-fridge lettuce as a zero-carb alternative to bread 🙅♀️ and load it with my favorite sandwich fixings: cheese, lean meat, and tangy pickles.
Why You’ll Love This Lettuce Wrap
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. My 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 incredible 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!
Nonna’s 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.
Variations and Substitutions for Lettuce Wrap
- Feel free to use any other toppings, such as tomatoes 🍅, banana peppers, olives 🫒, or sprouts 🌱
- Vegetarian? Try this with hummus or a black bean 🫘 spread, as well as avocado 🥑
- You can really use any cold cuts you like here, though I prefer options like ham, turkey, chicken, and roast beef over cured meats, like salami and prosciutto.
- 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.
- Use your favorite condiments—truffle mayo, chili 🌶️ pepper spread, ranch dressing…
Similar Recipes
Best Served With
- What is a sandwich without some crunchy chips on the side? Keep it healthy with some easy 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!
Common Questions
Certainly! Just use your favorite dairy-free cheese or no cheese at all.
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.
These are best enjoyed fresh so the lettuce retains its crispness. I would not make these more than 1 hour in advance.
No problem, you can use vegannaise instead. I have an excellent egg-free mayo recipe.
You can purchase jarred pickled red onions at the store, but they are so easy to make homemade.
Lettuce Wrap
Equipment
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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 turkey slices, cheese, pickles, and pickled onions on top.
- 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.)
- 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.
- You can slide or rip the parchment paper down as you enjoy your low carb lettuce wrap!
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I eat these for a light lunch all the time! SO GOOD!
Perfect way to cut out the bread! I keep on track with these! Tangy, a little spicy and delish! OBSESSED!
So good! Love the sauce.
Thank you!