Beef Lettuce Wraps (Print Version)
Juicy Asian-spiced ground beef tucked into crisp lettuce leaves. A light, flavorful, and satisfying handheld meal or appetizer.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 medium carrot, julienned or grated
07 - 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
08 - 4 ounces water chestnuts, drained and chopped
09 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Sauce
10 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
15 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
→ To Serve
16 - 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated and washed
17 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)
18 - Fresh cilantro or mint leaves (optional)
# Directions:
01 - In a large skillet or wok, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in the julienned carrot, finely diced red bell pepper, and chopped water chestnuts. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the vegetables are just tender-crisp.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha (if using), and brown sugar until well combined.
06 - Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture and stir to coat evenly. Simmer for 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
07 - Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the thinly sliced green onions.
08 - To serve, spoon a generous amount of the beef filling into the center of each washed lettuce leaf. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh cilantro or mint leaves if desired.
09 - Fold up the lettuce leaf around the filling and enjoy immediately as a handheld wrap.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This recipe is your secret weapon for those busy weeknights when you want a meal that feels special but comes together in a flash.
- It's incredibly versatile, allowing you to easily adjust flavors and ingredients to suit whatever you have on hand or what you're craving.
02 -
- Never overcrowd your skillet when browning the beef. It steams instead of browns, which means less flavor development.
- A critical discovery for me was always tasting the sauce mixture before adding it to the pan. It allows for perfect adjustments to sweetness or heat.
03 -
- Achieve the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy in your sauce by tasting it before adding it to the beef. A little adjustment can make a world of difference.
- To prevent soggy wraps, make sure your beef mixture is well-drained of excess fat and allow it to simmer just long enough for the sauce to thicken slightly, rather than becoming overly liquid.