Pork Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

• Condiments – Soy sauce (use low sodium to control some of the salt), hoisin sauce and rice vinegar. Store these sauces in the refrigerator after opening for a long shelf life. Look to the international section of the supermarket to find the Asian ingredients. They should be easy to find and affordable.
• Spices – Salt, black pepper, ginger powder and crushed red pepper add flavor and a little kick. Leave out the crushed red pepper if you don’t like spicy.
• Oil – A little oil is needed in the sauce and to brown the pork. Use a neutral (flavorless) oil with a high smoke point. We use canola oil.
• Vegetables – Garlic, green onions, carrots and lettuce are the items needed from the produce section. Use green leaf lettuce for the wraps (Boston or Bibb) any loose leaf lettuce should work.
• Meat – Ground pork works really well with the sauce and is a nice change of pace from ground turkey or chicken. For more ground pork recipes try these pork egg rolls and these potstickers.
• Garnish – Shredded carrots and chopped peanuts add extra crunch and flavor to the pork lettuce wraps.

Prep work

I love the prep work for this dish. Like this beef and vegetable stir fry or this shrimp lo mein recipe, the prep work on most Asian-inspired dishes is quick and easy, my go-to for busy weeknights!

• Mince the garlic.
• Slice the green onion.
• Shred the carrots or buy pre-shredded.
• Chop the peanuts.
• Wash the lettuce and pat dry (if not using prewashed)
• Make the sauce: Add the water, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, 1 tablespoon of oil, ginger powder and the crushed red pepper (if using) to a canning jar or bowl. Stir well with a whisk or fork to combine.

Recipe tips

• Go easy on the salt in this recipe. Add just a little bit to the pork while browning because the hoisin and soy sauce both contain a good amount of salt already. We can always taste and add extra at the end.
• Prep the sauce first while you prepare the rest of the ingredients to give it a chance to sit and let all those flavors come together.
• Before building the lettuce wraps let the meat cool some. If the meat is too warm it will wilt the lettuce and it could tear.

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork, sprinkle it with the salt and pepper, and arrange it in a single layer.
2. Cook the pork for 3-4 minutes to brown the bottom layer.
3. Flip the pork in sections so that the browned side is up and cook 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir the pork and break up any large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula, continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.
5. Add the prepared sauce to the skillet.
6. Stir well and continue cooking the pork for approximately 5 minutes until cooked through and the sauce reduces and is absorbed.

Add the green onions, take the skillet off the heat and allow the pork filling to cool.

Serve the pork in the lettuce cups and garnish with the carrots and peanuts. Enjoy!

You may also like these favorite take-out recipes:

• Sesame Noodles
• Orange Beef
• Orange Chicken
• Beef and Broccoli
• Chicken Fried Rice