Asian Lettuce Wraps

Asian lettuce wraps are one of my favorite restaurant dishes. They are healthy, fresh, and low carb. You can enjoy them as an appetizer or a main course! Our version is full of veggies, ground chicken and an asian sauce (we’ll show you how to make it, or you can use store bought if you are short on time). This is an easy 15 minute meal we love!

Ingredients for Asian Lettuce Wraps:

• Celery- This helps with giving a nice crunch to the filling.
• Water Chestnuts- Another crunchy texture, canned water chestnuts are delicious left in large or small chunks.
• Onion- I used half of a large white onion, which yielded about 1/2 cup chopped.
• Ground Chicken- The base of these lettuce wraps, Isernio’s is my favorite brand (it is half breasts and thighs which gives it a much richer flavor). You could use pork, turkey, beef, or any other favorite ground meat of your choice.
• Sauce
  • Homemade: Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic and ginger.
  • Store Bought: My favorites are Yoshida’s, Veri Veri Teriyaki, and Trader Joes Island Soyaki.
• Cornstarch- This helps thicken the sauce to a sticky texture.
• Sesame Seeds- Optional, for garnish.

First step is to prep our veggies by chopping celery, onion and water chestnuts. I like to chop them finely, but chefs choice if you prefer a heartier lettuce wrap filling.

You could add or substitute other vegetables for the filling.

• Mushrooms
• Carrots
• Bean Sprouts (mung beans)
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Sweet Peas

Next step is to sautéed the ground chicken on medium-high heat, breaking it up into small pieces as you cook it. No need to add seasoning, we will do that as the final step with the sauce. Place the fully cooked ground chicken into a separate bowl, then sauté the chopped vegetables until the onion is translucent. Once translucent, add in the ground chicken, and the sauce (full instructions on the recipe card below). Once the sauce is bubbling, cook for about 2-3 minutes and then turn off heat. 

Add cornstarch to the teriyaki mixture directly, and whisk with a fork until fully combined, which will help thicken the sauce once it cooks (you don’t want to add cornstarch directly to the pan as it will be lumpy). Once the sauce is bubbling, cook for about 2-3 minutes and then turn off heat.

I like to allow the filling to cool slightly so it doesn’t wilt the lettuce- about 10-15 minutes seems to do it.

Spoon the filling, garnish with green onion and/or sesame seeds and serve! This dish is delicious served with white rice (oven baked rice is so easy!).

If you are looking for more delicious Asian inspired recipes, here are some other ideas.

• Asian Rice Salad
• Asian Slaw
• Asian Style Meatloaf
• One Pan Eggroll in a Bowl
• Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad
• Mongolian Beef & Peppers
• Easy Sesame Noodles 

Enjoy these delicious low carb treats! – Rachel and Kathi

Asian Lettuce Wraps

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Cooling

10 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

a delicious and easy recipe made with either homemade or store bought sauce

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, healthy, low carb

Cuisine: Appetizer, Asian, healthy, low carb

Servings: 4 people

: 263 kcal

: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground chicken (or ground meat of choice)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 8 oz canned water chestnuts, drained & finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 head iceberg lettuce

Sauce Option 1: Storebought Teriyaki Sauce

• 3/4 cup storebought teriyaki sauce + 1 tbsp cornstarch (whisked together to combine)

Sauce Option 2: Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

• 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• .5 tbsp fresh chopped ginger (or ginger paste)
• .5 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. In a skillet on medium high heat, add 1 tsp olive oil. Add ground chicken. Fully cook, breaking apart pieces into small crumbles as it cooks (about 5-6 minutes total). Drain excess liquid, and place fully cooked ground chicken into separate bowl. Set aside.

2. In same skillet on medium high heat, add remaining 1 tsp olive oil and add celery, onion, and water chestnuts to skillet. Cook until onion is translucent. About 5-7 minutes. Add ground chicken, reduce heat to medium low.

3. Add sauce.

   Store bought: Whisk teriyaki sauce + cornstarch in a separate container. Pour over chicken/vegetable mixture. Cook until sauce is bubbling, about 2-3 minutes. Stir, and remove from heat.

   Homemade: Whisk sauce ingredients in a separate container. Pour over chicken/vegetable mixture. Cook until sauce is bubbling, about 2-3 minutes. Stir, and remove from heat.

4. Allow chicken/vegetable filling to cool about 10 minutes before serving. Spoon filling into lettuce leaves, garnish with sesame seeds if desired and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Amount Per Serving

Calories 263 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 98mg33%

Sodium 854mg36%

Potassium 886mg25%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 734IU15%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 48mg5%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.