Lettuce Wraps

I love a flexible recipe, one that can adapt itself to what you have in the cupboard. And I love a recipe that sneaks in veggies - more veggies than meat. This is also a pretty easy recipe, although my experience is that most recipes don't feel easy the first time. But I can tell this will be an easy recipe the second time.


Lettuce Wraps

3 Tablespoons peanut oil
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chopped water chestnut
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup chopped green onion
2 teaspoons diced garlic
1 -2 teaspoons diced ginger
Sesame oil (drizzle to taste)

The mushrooms, carrots and onion - all ready to go.

Fry Sauce
Whisk together:
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar


10 Iceberg lettuce leaves

Mae Ploy sauce

I got this at Safeway.

1. Add half the oil to wok (I just used a large frying pan) and heat medium high adding half of garlic and ginger.

2. Add chicken and cook until done. Remove chicken and set aside.

3. Add rest of oil, garlic, and ginger and quickly saute mushroom, green onion, carrot, and waterchestnut - keep crisp.

4. Shred or dice chicken and add to veggies in wok. Pour fry sauce over all and quickly fry - keeping veggies crisp.

5. Drizzle sesame oil over all and mix in. Sesame oil can be strong so taste as you go.

6. Let each person assemble their own wrap. Serve with rice and Mae Ploy sauce for dipping (YUM).

Tips and Hints:

• This is easier to make with a food processor. The first time it took me about 25 minutes including cooking time.
• You can use any leftover meat: chicken, hamburger, steak. I used leftover pork chops (3 thick ones from Costco), shredded/chopped them in the Cuisinart and it made enough for at least 8 people (I added more veggies).
• I used regular vinegar. You could also skip/exchange a few ingredients (water chestnuts, sesame oil, peanut oil) and it will be okay. Just not as fabulous!
  
• I didn't use all the fry sauce.
• Use brown rice for more fiber.
• You can cut way back on the oil and sugar if you want - still even with this amount of oil you are getting much less than you would from, say, PF Chang.
• Other veggies that would work: red and yellow bell peppers, zucchini, peas, and so on.
• Sesame oil is wonderful. I make a quick stir fry about 3 times a month and the peanut oil, fresh ginger, garlic, and sesame oil is what makes it taste so darn good (the frozen stir fry veggies at costco are excellent).
• You can also serve over rice.
  
• Good enough for a party or company.
  
• Tastes just as good the next day!