Eating with your hands slows you down, and the crunch of lettuce makes a small amount of filling feel like a full meal.
This is one of our weight loss recipes, and the total time is 15 minutes. To see why these foods help, read our guide to insulin resistance and obesity or the full overview of insulin resistance.
Chicken Lettuce Cups with Peanut Lime Sauce
Filling
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) avocado oil
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground chicken
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 cup (100 g) mushrooms, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp low-sodium tamari
Sauce
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp low-sodium tamari
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp red chili flakes or chili sauce
- 1 to 2 tbsp warm water
To serve
- 12 butter or romaine lettuce leaves
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts and cilantro
Method
- Whisk the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, adding water until pourable.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken 5 minutes, breaking it up, until browned.
- Add the carrot, mushrooms, garlic and ginger and cook 3 minutes until the moisture has evaporated. Stir in the tamari.
- Spoon into lettuce leaves with cucumber. Drizzle with the sauce and scatter with peanuts and cilantro.
Approximate per serving: 380 calories, 29 g protein, 3 g fiber. Values are estimates and vary with brands and portions.
Why this works for weight loss
- High protein, low carbohydrate. About 29 g per serving with no grain.
- Satisfying crunch. Keeps portions in check.
- Controlled sauce. Natural peanut butter has no added sugar; you use just 2 tablespoons for the whole batch.
The same principles are explained in detail in our insulin resistance and obesity guide. For more ways to add fiber to meals, see the fiber guide.
Make it your own
- Use ground turkey if you prefer.
- Look for peanut butter with only peanuts and salt in the ingredients.
- Keep the filling and lettuce separate to stop sogginess.
More weight loss recipes
- Smoky Eggplant Chickpea Stew (30 Minutes)
- Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry (15 Minutes)
- Creamy Cauliflower White Bean Soup (25 Minutes)
- One-Pan Lemon Chicken with Vegetables (30 Minutes)
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Broccoli (15 Minutes)
Every recipe here avoids added sugar, refined flour and high-load fruit. Learn how glycemic index and glycemic load work.
Please note. This page is for education and is not medical advice. If you take insulin or medication that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea, talk to your care team before making large changes to what you eat. Read our medical disclaimer.