Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Name: Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: chinese_american
Ingredients: 500 g ground chicken (preferably thigh meat for juiciness); 8 pcs butter lettuce (large leaves, washed and dried); 100 g water chestnuts (drained and finely diced); 1 pcs bell pepper (medium, finely diced); 1 pcs onion (medium, finely chopped); 4 pcs garlic (cloves, minced); 1 inch ginger (peeled and grated); 3 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp sesame oil (toasted); 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 pinch salt; 1 pinch black pepper; 2 pcs green onion (thinly sliced, for garnish); 2 tbsp peanuts (roasted, roughly chopped)

RATING

4.6/5(115)

TASTE SCORE

9/10

Savory, slightly saucy ground chicken tossed with crunchy water chestnuts and bell peppers, all nestled into crisp, cool butter lettuce cups. A fun, hands-on dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.

PREP

15m

COOK

15m

SERVES

2 PIECES

359 cal

SERVINGS

METHOD · 6 STEPS

prep · ~5 min
Prep the vegetables and sauce.
1.Dice the bell pepper and water chestnuts into small, even pieces.
2.Finely chop the onion, mince the garlic, and grate the ginger.
3.In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce and rice vinegar.
saute · ~6 min
Cook the chicken.
1.Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2.Add the ground chicken and break it up with a spatula.
3.Cook until no longer pink and starting to brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
saute · ~6 min
Build the filling.
1.Add the chopped onion to the chicken and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
2.Stir in the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3.Add the diced bell pepper and water chestnuts, cooking for another 2 minutes.
4.Pour the soy sauce mixture over everything and toss to coat evenly.
saute · ~1 min
Finish the filling.
1.Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
2.Stir in the toasted sesame oil and remove the pan from the heat.
3.Let the filling rest for a minute.
TIPDon't over-salt — the soy sauce already brings plenty of saltiness.
prep
Prepare the lettuce cups.
1.Gently separate the butter lettuce leaves, keeping them whole.
2.Wash and pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel.
assemble
Assemble the wraps.
1.Spoon the warm chicken mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf.
2.Garnish with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of chopped peanuts.
3.Serve immediately while the filling is hot and the lettuce is crisp.

PRO TIPS

What to keep in mind.

6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.

1
To keep the lettuce cups crisp, pat the leaves completely dry before filling.
2
Chop the water chestnuts and bell pepper into small, even dice so they integrate smoothly into the filling.
3
Use ground chicken thigh instead of breast for a juicier, more flavorful filling.
4
Cook the chicken over medium-high heat without overcrowding the pan to encourage browning, not steaming.
5
Let the finished filling rest off the heat for a minute so the flavors meld before spooning into lettuce.
6
For make-ahead prep, store the cooked filling and washed lettuce separately and assemble just before serving.

RECIPE VARIATIONS