Pan-Seared Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, Low Carb
Tender shrimp seasoned with chili powder, paprika, and cumin, served in crisp lettuce leaves with fresh purple cabbage, avocado, tomato, and parsley. Quick-cooking weeknight tacos that skip the tortilla for a lighter, protein-packed meal.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 8 tbsp purple cabbage, shreddedgreen cabbage1:1vegetable
different color, similar texture
- ½ avocado, chopped
- 4 tbsp tomatoes, chopped
- 3 tbsp parsley, freshly chopped
- 15 Bibb lettuce leaves, or butter lettucebutter lettuce1:1low-carb wrapadds dairy
source lists both
- 1 lemon(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Clean and dry shrimp thoroughly.
- 2
Dice tomatoes and avocado.
- 3
Chop parsley.
- 4
Shred purple cabbage.
- 5
Combine shrimp, chili powder, paprika, cumin, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- 6
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 7
Cook shrimp for 5 to 8 minutes until cooked through, working in batches if needed.
- 8
Cool shrimp briefly to prevent lettuce wilting.
- 9
Assemble each serving by placing two or three lettuce leaves on a plate, distributing purple cabbage, shrimp, avocado, and tomatoes among them.
- 10
Top with parsley and lemon squeeze if desired.
- 11
Repeat to make all six servings.
Tips
Pat shrimp dry to ensure even browning and prevent splattering.
Cook shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet, which prevents proper searing.
Use chilled lettuce leaves for crispness and easier wrapping.
Good to Know
Store cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Assemble wraps fresh to maintain lettuce crispness.
Prep vegetables and marinate shrimp up to 4 hours ahead. Cook shrimp just before serving.
Serve immediately after assembly with lime wedges and hot sauce on the side.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip drying the shrimp to avoid excess moisture that prevents browning.
Do not overcrowd the skillet to avoid steaming instead of searing.
Do not let cooked shrimp sit too long before assembly to avoid wilted lettuce.
Substitutions
different color, similar texture