Well well well…what do we have here? We’ve got tasteful, healthful, spicy-ful, veggie-full goodness, that’s what!
Before you spitter and spatter at the idea of a lettuce wrap – especially one filled with tofu – let me tell you that this one is different.
No, really. It’s tossed with soy sauce and plum sauce and sriracha and garlic and all sorts of other good stuff. It’s tucked inside a wrap of buttery-soft lettuce. It’s a…
1. Spicy Tofu Lettuce Wrap
And it’s delicious. The best part is it’s low-carb, so your post-holiday waistline won’t mind it, either!
First, gather your ingredients. See that bowl in the center, there? That’s where the magic happens – the gingery, garlicky, peppery, sriracha-y magic.
Cook the tofu in a large skillet until it’s nice and browned, then transfer it to a plate and set it aside.
Sauté the veggies and spices until they’re nice and browned and even slightly charred.
Toss everything together with some soy sauce and plum sauce, scoop it into lettuce leaves, roll it all up and mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm! (Sorry, my mouth was full).
Of course, this ain’t the only way to swap fruit and veggies for carbs in your daily diet, no sireee. Here are a few other ways to do it that you’ll lurve so much, you won’t even miss the old carbo-loading days.
2. Take My Bread Away
Who says sandwiches need to be stuffed between two slices of bread? Substitute the stuff with your favorite veggie – use Swiss chard or lettuce for wraps (duh), slices of cucumber for mini sandwiches or eat all the fixins of a sandwich as a salad.
3. An Apple a Day…
Use apples as the new vehicle for your breakfast food – stuff two slices with peanut butter and raisins or sunflower seeds for an energy-filled, on-the-go morning meal.
4. Snack Attack
Back away from the crackers… use slices of cucumber, red bell pepper, even fruit to move that cheese into your pie hole, or bake up some tasty kale chips in place of the classic potato ones.
5. The Great Pasta Swap
Squash and eggplant both are chockfull of good-for-you nutrition, and they taste surprisingly delicious in place of pasta. Use eggplant to swap out those lasagna noodles, and use spaghetti squash as a bed for meatballs and marinara.
6. Sneaky Sides
Swap those carb-heavy mashed potatoes for sautéed spinach or green beans. You can also use shredded and cooked cauliflower in place of rice for your favorite dishes, or use it in place of taters for a healthified au gratin.
7. Pizza, Pizza
Speaking of cauliflower, did you know it makes for an awesomely amazing low-carb pizza crust? OH YES. You can use Portobello mushroom caps as a tasty pizza crust, too.
8. Sweet Treats
So here’s something fantastic – you can still get your chocolate fix on a low-carb diet. Dip bananas or strawberries in melty chocolate for a healthier dessert, and leave the cookies in the cookie jar.
9. Egg-cellent Eats
Skip the toast and cook up an egg in a low-carb bell pepper ring. It’s delicious and cute all at the same time!
10. Soup n’ Salad
Make a meal-worthy soup or salad in place of your usual carb-heavy options. This Spicy Beef n’ Black Bean Chili and this Asian Steak Salad are great places to start!
What’s your favorite way to swap produce for carbs?
Stephanie (aka Girl Versus Dough) assures you she doesn’t always eat like a rabbit – sometimes cookies are just too dang tasty. Check out Stephanie’s Tablespoon member profile and keep checking back for her own personal recipes on Tablespoon!
Advertise on Platefull