When I was a child, lettuce wraps at out local Chinese restaurant were, to me, the height of sophistication. I'm not exactly sure why because they are quite difficult to eat whist still looking elegant. The mess factor is definately overshadowed by their taste and they are a good thing to serve if people don't know each other well, as mess breaks down barriers fast.
The two main things to note with this recipe are firstly, it is all about texture. The crispness of the lettuce against the filling is wonderful, so wuth that in mind you can get creative and play around with the filling elements. By that I mean you can add peanuts, crispy noodles, peppers, whatever you feel like, just make sure that you watch the calories of your other ingredients (especially the crispy noodles). The second thing to note is that you can substitute chicken or firm tofu for the pork, which makes these babies a very versatile dish to have in your collection.
Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce Wraps
Serves four
Ingredients
16 oz Pork Tenderloin (or Chicken or Tofu, see my note above) 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 shallots finely chopped (or 1/2 yellow onion) 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/2 cup water chestnuts chopped 1/2 cup bamboo shoots chopped 1/4 cup lite soy sauce 1/3 cup hoi sin sauce 1 tablespoon malt vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch 8 Iceberg lettuce leaves Method
Chop the pork very finely. You can throw it in the food processor and grind it and to be honest I have done this when I am really pushed for time, but I prefer the texture when you chop it. Play around and work out which way you prefer. In a non stick fry pan, add the oil, shallots and garlic. If you prefer you can use a regular fry pan with non stick spray. Sauté the garlic and shallots until transparent, one or two minutes. Add the pork and cook for another couple of minutes until it is cooked but not browned. Add the water chestnuts and bamboo shoots and stir until combined. Combine the soy sauce, hoi sin sauce, vinegar and sugar and add to the pork mixture. In a small bowl combine the cornstarch with two or three tablespoons or water. Add the corn starch mixture to the pork and simmer until thickened. Serve the pork mixture in a bowl with the lettuce leaves on a platter and let everyone build their own.
