lettuce wraps recipe

Lettuce Wraps Recipe

This lettuce wraps recipe is a flavorful and lighter meal inspired by popular restaurant-style chicken lettuce wraps. Juicy chicken thighs are combined with water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, onions, ginger, and a savory-sweet glaze, then spooned into crisp iceberg lettuce leaves for a fresh and satisfying meal. Discover more flavorful recipes like Lettuce Wraps Recipe right here.

Ingredients

  • For the Chicken Mixture:
    • 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, coarsely chopped
    • 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and minced
    • 1 cup diced shiitake mushroom caps
    • ½ cup minced yellow onion
    • ⅓ cup chopped green onion
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • For the Glaze:
    • ¼ cup chicken stock
    • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • For Cooking and Serving:
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste
    • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh basil, or to taste
    • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped green onion
    • 16 iceberg lettuce leaves, or as needed

Directions

  • Combine the chopped chicken, water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, yellow onion, ⅓ cup green onion, soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar in a bowl.
  • Press the mixture down, cover the bowl, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and dry mustard until well combined.
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over high heat.
  • Add the chicken mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken no longer looks raw, about 2 minutes.
  • Add half of the glaze and continue cooking and stirring until the chicken begins to caramelize and brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the remaining glaze.
  • Cook for about 3 minutes, until the sauce is heated through and slightly reduced.
  • Stir in the chopped cilantro, basil, and green onion.
  • Transfer the chicken mixture to a serving bowl.
  • Serve hot with crisp iceberg lettuce leaves for wrapping.

Preparation Details

  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 16 lettuce wraps