lettuce wraps

Classic bold flavor - using ground meat or a meat-free substitute for your lifestyle. Don't be intimidated by a 15-ingredient recipe - after some chopping, this is very simple to prepare! Serve over grains for a heartier meal.

Cooking Time: 45m
Cooking Method:
Main Ingredients:
Recipe Category:
Suitable for Diet:
lettuce wraps

Ingredients

FOR WRAPS:

  • lettuce leaves (large and crunchy leaves work best, like romaine or iceberg)
  • heat-tolerant cooking oil for pan (recommended: safflower or sunflower)
  • 1.5 lb (24 oz) ground meat – OR – meat substitute (16-24 oz tempeh/firm tofu or 2 c TVP)
  • 3 c button or cremini mushrooms, diced
  • 0.5 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 c carrots, julienned (cut in thin strips)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger root, minced
  • 8 oz water chestnuts, diced
  • 4-6 green onions, sliced
  • 0.75 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp liquid aminos (or coconut aminos or soy sauce)
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil (or peanut oil + sesame seeds if you have them)
  • 1.5 tbsp almond butter (or other nut butter)
  • 1.5 tsp sambal oelek (or chili sauce like sriracha)
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar (plain or seasoned, I use half and half)
  • 1 tsp mirin (sweet cooking rice wine – can sub 0.75 tsp sherry/wine + 0.25 tsp honey/sugar)

 

FOR SAUCE:

  • 4 green onions, sliced thinly
  • 3 tbsp liquid aminos (or coconut aminos or soy sauce)
  • 1.5 tsp toasted sesame oil (or peanut oil + sesame seeds, if you have them)
  • 1 tsp sambal oelek (or chili sauce like sriracha)
  • 1.5 tsp rice vinegar (plain or seasoned, I use half and half)
  • 1 tsp mirin (sweet cooking rice wine – can sub 0.75 tsp sherry/wine + 0.25 tsp honey/sugar)

Instructions

If using tempeh: crumble/break in to large chunks. It will break apart more, so you want to start with larger pieces than desired in the end.

If using tofu: break/cut in to small (0.5″) cubes. It will break apart more, so you want to start with larger pieces than desired in the end.

If using TVP: reconstitute and pre-season by combining 2 c TVP + 0.5 tsp salt (or 1 tsp Ficken Seasoning/Vegan Bouillon Powder) with just under 2 c boiling water. Stir until all water is absorbed.

If using meat: no prep needed

  1. Prepare all the vegetables. Mix liquid filling ingredients together in a small bowl. Mix sauce ingredients together in a separate bowl.
  2. Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
  3. Add yellow onions and mushrooms. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring every couple minutes (until onions begin to soften and mushrooms have released most of them moisture). Reduce heat to medium.
  4. Add carrots + ginger + garlic. Cook for 5 minutes.
  5. If using meat, remove vegetables from pan. Add 1-2 tbsp cooking oil + meat + 0.25 tsp salt. Brown until just cooked through. Remove fat if needed. Add vegetables back to pan.
  6. If using plant-based protein, add it to the vegetables.
  7. Add salt + pepper to vegetables/protein in the pan. Cook all together for 5 minutes.
  8. Add water chestnuts + green onions. Stir to combine.
  9. Add liquid filling ingredients. Mix well and cook for 3 more minutes.
  10. Scoop in to lettuce leaves and top with a spoonful of sauce.
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