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Asian Lettuce Wraps

Ready in 18 mins

Recipe by Graham 

Asian Lettuce Wraps are stupidly simple and well tasty. Great for a midday snack or light meal and sufficiently unusual that you could even use them as a starter when entertaining the in-laws (but this recipe would then work for 6). Quick and easy to make, Asian Lettuce Wraps will add something unusal to your cooking repertoire.

Preparation Time

10 Minutes

Cooking Time

8 Minutes

Ingredients for Asian Lettuce Wraps

If you are not familiar with any ingredients, please check our International Cooking Terms page.

Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 4:

2 tablespoons duck (or goose) fat
1 lb lean minced beef
2 inches fresh ginger
2 spring onions (a.k.a. scallions or salad onions)
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 oz peanuts
  salt and pepper
1 head Boston lettuce (a.k.a. Butterhead or Bibb lettuce)

How to Cook Asian Lettuce Wraps

  1. Separate the lettuce leaves, rinse well and dry them, then set aside. Peel and finely grate the ginger, finely chop the spring onions, peel and crush (mince) the garlic and chop the peanuts. Melt the duck (or goose) fat in a skillet or large frying pan over medium-high heat, then sauté the beef until brown (about 6-7 minutes).
  2. Stir in the grated ginger, chopped spring onions, minced garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and hoisin sauce and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped peanuts. Season with salt and freshly-ground black pepper and serve warm wrapped in lettuce cups .
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
If you have difficulty getting duck fat or goose fat, you can use vegetable oil. However, the fats are healthier and taste much better.