Fish Taco Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce > Tortillas

Lettuce wraps are the ultimate healthy taco alternative.  It makes the meal taste fresher, lighter, and avoids SO many calories.  Using a medium soft tortilla adds about 100 calories and two grams of fat to each taco, and if you reach for the hard shell, it’ll cost you closer to 150 calories with six grams of fat.  If you eat three hard-shell tortilla tacos for dinner, the tortilla alone is adding 450 calories and 18 grams of fat to your meal that is easily avoided by switching it out for a lettuce wrap.

In my opinion, the tortilla doesn’t add much to the meal, so to me these are wasted calories.  Everyone is entitled to their own view, but hear me out.  The soft shell doesn’t add that much flavor, you can probably barely taste it over what is inside the taco, and is not adding any crunch or texture.  There could be an argument for the hard shell that you like the crunch.  Fair.  But romaine hearts have a crunch to them too.  It might not be exactly the same, but it is pretty close and is a great substitute when you think about what it can save you.

Making These Lettuce Wraps

This recipe is perfect for a weekday dinner for two, or can easily be made in larger quantities to host a great get-together.  And taco bars are always fun when hosting because everyone is able to top with what they want.  Picky eaters can avoid what they don’t like, the men can load theirs up as high as they want with everything in sight, and it allows people to choose if they want to make the healthier choices without feeling like they are burdening the host who is making the food.

Making the Meal

First start by cutting your tilapia fillet into small pieces.  Tilapia is a great fish for this recipe because it is a light white fish, is cheap to purchase if you are serving a group, and isn’t too fishy.  Cutting it first cuts down on the cooking time, plus makes cleaner cuts than if you try to do it once its finished and flaky.

Cooking the fish is really the only required step in this recipe!  Once you have that you just need to put out your toppings and let everyone take what they want.  Told you it was easy!

If you want to add other toppings to your meal to make it your own, that is completely okay!  To name a few, at my house we have added black beans – to add extra protein and a little more sustenance, plain greek yogurt – to serve as a “sour cream” type topping, and cheese – because cheese makes everything better!  Feel free to customize according to your family and guests’ preferences and dietary needs.

You could even make this a vegetarian option by switching the fish out for tofu, only using the beans, or adding the beans with some additional rice or quinoa.