Description
Asian-Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a healthy and flavorful dish, perfect for a light meal or appetizer. With savory ground beef, a blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and crunchy water chestnuts, all wrapped in crisp lettuce, these wraps are a fun and satisfying way to enjoy bold Asian flavors. Customize them with your favorite toppings like cilantro, peanuts, and hoisin sauce for a fresh, low-carb treat.
Ingredients
For the Filling:
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1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
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1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
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¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
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1 tablespoon rice vinegar
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1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional, for sweetness)
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1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional, for added flavor)
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1 teaspoon brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
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½ cup water chestnuts, chopped (for crunch)
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½ cup green onions, chopped (for garnish)
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1 carrot, julienned or shredded
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1 cucumber, julienned or thinly sliced (optional, for garnish)
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1 head of butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce (for wrapping)
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Chopped cilantro (optional, for garnish)
- Chopped peanuts (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the Ground Beef:
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Heat the Oil:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil (or sesame oil) over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary. -
Add the Aromatics:
Add the minced garlic and ginger to the skillet with the beef and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. -
Add the Sauces and Seasonings:
Stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce (if using), sesame oil (if using), and brown sugar. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. -
Add the Water Chestnuts:
Add the chopped water chestnuts and cook for another 1-2 minutes for added crunch.
Prepare the Lettuce Wraps:
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Prepare Lettuce Leaves:
While the beef mixture is cooking, separate the lettuce leaves, keeping them as intact as possible to serve as wraps. Rinse and dry the leaves if needed.
Assemble the Wraps:
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Fill the Lettuce:
Spoon the cooked ground beef mixture onto each lettuce leaf, about 2-3 tablespoons per leaf, depending on their size. -
Add Toppings:
Top with shredded carrots, chopped green onions, cucumber slices (optional), cilantro, and chopped peanuts for extra crunch and garnish.
Serve:
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Serve Immediately:
Serve the lettuce wraps immediately as a light meal or appetizer. You can also serve with extra hoisin sauce or soy sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
Add More Vegetables: For extra nutrients, add other veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms to the beef mixture.Make it Spicy: Add a few dashes of sriracha or a chopped chili pepper to the beef mixture for some heat.Use Ground Chicken : Swap the ground beef for ground chicken for a leaner version of this dish. for a leanLettuce Alternatives: If you don’t have or prefer lettuce, you can use cabbage leaves for wrapping, or even serve the filling over a bed of rice.
