Restaurant Worthy Asian Lettuce Wraps

If you’ve ever been to PF Changs, you have probably ordered their lettuce wrap appetizer. They are pretty delicious and seem to be one of the ‘you gotta try this’ menu items. Lettuce wraps are also one of those dishes that I order at a restaurant and immediately say “I could make these at home”. (I actually sound like a broken record with that phrase!) But it’s true- and now with this easy and WOW! so super flavorful recipe, you CAN make lettuce wraps at home too. These Asian Lettuce Wraps are more than restaurant worthy; they are restaurant superior!

Are Asian Lettuce Wraps SCD Friendly?

If you are following the SCD diet, most restaurant Asian food is a no-no. No soy, no tamari, not even Coconut Aminos is legal for us SCD’ers! So technically, NO, these lettuce wraps as written are not SCD legal because they do contain coconut aminos. However, after strictly following the SCD rules for over 5 years, we have begun to slowly add a couple new ingredients. We were really missing those Asian flavors, so we tried Coconut Aminos in moderation, and have been tolerating it just fine. Thank the Lord because everyone gets excited about these Lettuce Wraps!

What is Coconut Aminos?

Coconut aminos is a dark-colored sauce that tastes similar to soy sauce. Instead of being made from soy, however, coconut aminos comes from the sap of the coconut plant — not coconuts. After extraction, the sap gets stored and ages. During this time, it ferments due to the natural sugars present within it. The final result tastes savory and not at all like coconut.

WebMD.com

Coconut Aminos is a really delicious sauce that can replace soy sauce or tamari in recipes. It tastes slightly sweeter and has less sodium that their soy-based cousins. You can read all Coconut Aminos HERE from our friends at WebMD.

Restaurant Worthy Asian Lettuce Wrap toppings

The lightly seasoned ground turkey or pork is a great tasting base for these little lettuce bowls. But the real fun is in the toppings! Below is my list of toppings that create layers of flavor and really make these wraps out-of-this-world good. Though I divide the list into musts and highly suggested- I personally stuff my wraps with every single one of these!

The Musts (in my opinion!)

• The Savory– Peanut Sesame Oil Sauce
• The Acid– Fresh squeezed lime (at a minimum) or Tangy Carrot and Ginger Dip or both!
• The Herb– Cilantro. Period.
• The Bite– Green onion

Highly Suggested

• The Crunch–
  • Shredded carrot
  • Finely chopped cucumber
  • Finely chopped sweet pepper

One final note on these Restaurant Worthy Asian Lettuce Wraps- While I call them lettuce wraps, green cabbage makes a much sturdier handheld bowl. It adds a lovely crunch and can hold all those flavor boosting toppings with ease! For more of a salad option (and a flavor EXPLOSION) try using our Sweet and Spicy Peanut Cabbage Salad as a base. YUM!

Restaurant Worthy Asian Lettuce Wraps

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Kristi McCollom
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings

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Description

More than restaurant worthy, these Asian Lettuce Wraps are restaurant SUPERIOR!  Bursting with layer after layer of flavor- these are sure to be a hit!

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Ingredients

For the Protein:

1 Tbsp oil (avocado, sesame, olive or a combo- I like 1/2 sesame, 1/2 avocado)

1 lb ground turkey or pork

1 Tbsp garlic- minced

1 Tbsp fresh ginger- minced

2 Tbsp Chinese Five Spice (a spice blend you can find in most grocery stores easily)

2 Tbsp Coconut Aminos

Salt/Pepper to taste

 

For the Peanut Sauce:

2 tsp creamy peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter (no sugar added) or tahini

1-2 Tbsp Coconut Aminos (start with one and taste before adding a second)

1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

 

Toppings:

• Bibb lettuce or green cabbage for the wraps
• Carrots- shredded
• Sweet pepper- finely chopped
• Cucumber- finely chopped
• Cilantro
• Green onion
• Lime juice- fresh squeezed
• Tangy Carrot and Ginger Dip

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Instructions

For the Protein: 

1. Heat oil in a skillet to medium.
2. Saute garlic and onion for 30 seconds.
3. Add ground meat, Chinese five spice and coconut aminos.
4. Stir and cook until meat is cooked thoroughly.  Taste and add salt/pepper if desired.

 

For the Peanut Sauce:

1. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.  Whisk until smooth.

 

Assembly:

1. Spoon protein into lettuce or cabbage wrap.
2. Drizzle meat with peanut sauce.
3. Sprinkle with any or all of the suggested toppings.  (I love to add them ALL!)
4. Finish with a squeeze of lime and/or this Tangy Carrot and Ginger Dip.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes