Homemade, soaked and fermented sourdough bread can be a nutritious addition to some people’s diets, and the same goes with tortillas made with the long traditional method. But let’s face it: most bread, tortillas and wraps we buy today are nutrition-less, over-processed grain and gluten products that cause many of us digestive distress, slowly leading to disease.
Sadly, we have become so dependent on these flour-based products, that it’s one of the hardest things to imagine eliminating from our daily diet. What will we toast for breakfast? What will we eat for lunch if not a sandwich? How will I eat my chicken salad or tuna salad at the picnic?
Lettuce Wraps!
I know that if you are someone who doesn’t eat many vegetables and/or salads, lettuce sounds like the most boring food on earth. Mostly water, not much taste. However, when you are using a leaf of lettuce to hold flavourful meats and vegetables, it is the most perfect food for the job. It’s crispy. It’s moist, requiring no butter or spread. It doesn’t detract from the tastes of the food inside. It’s cheap, portable and requires no cutting board. Yes, as a wrap, lettuce is king.
Many kids who won’t eat lettuce, will have it as a wrap – as long as there is something yummy inside! Our 4-year-old, Kaiya, loves the crunch of lettuce wraps. It’s the only time she enjoys lettuce.
Gluten and grain free tacos coming right up!
The downside of the movement away from gluten is that people are now eating loads of gluten-free breads and wraps. Sadly, these are also just over-processed packaged products that are not much better. So ditch the gluten-free bread and the wholewheat spinach wrap, and just get a cheap, fresh, head of lettuce!
I find that Cos Lettuce (Romaine) has the best leaves for wraps, and Baby Cos (Baby Romaine) are good for snacks or appetisers. Keep your lettuce nice and dry in the fridge and it will last longer.
Not just for sandwich time, lettuce wraps go well with any meal.
Lettuce wraps with beef and beetroot and a side of pumpkin.
When you want to take your lettuce wraps out for a picnic or lunch at work, just tear off some leaves and put in a container or little bag. Keep your filling in a separate container, then just make the wraps as you are about to eat them. You could pre-wrap, but often the filling falls out everywhere and the lettuce may start to get soggy.
Leftover beef and pumpkin scrap salad for Kaiya and her friend.
They spooned it into the lettuce wraps at the park.
Lettuce wraps are perfect for Lovin’ Leftovers. What a perfect way to enjoy leftover stewed or grilled meats, fish, chicken and veggies – throw it in a lettuce wrap!
What do you love to put in your lettuce wraps?
The Best Alternative to Breads, Tortillas and Wraps – August 2013
