Lettuce Wraps Sichuan Style Recipe

I absolutely love this recipe because it’s a perfect blend of flavors and textures, bringing savory, spicy, and fresh elements together in each bite. Plus, these lettuce wraps are super easy to make and are an impressive, healthy option for entertaining friends or just treating myself.

I love it when flavor and nutrition tango in a dish. My Lettuce Wraps, Sichuan Style, pack a wallop of both.

They feature ground pork or chicken that’s juicy and over-the-top flavorful thanks to the seasoning of fresh ginger and garlic, with the dash-dash-dash of soy sauce, a drizzle of hoisin, and a hint of heat from chili paste, making for a nearly perfect sauce, at least in my estimation. The sauce’s umami is nicely balanced by the crunchy—call it final-texture—component of water chestnuts and red bell pepper.

Either of those ingredients could stand in for the other in the veggie crunch, but both of them together make for one (dig in) burrito-sized proposition.

Ingredients

Pork (or Chicken) Ground: Provides high-grade protein and very necessary amino acids.

Garlic: Contributes strong taste; has inflammatory and immune system effects.

Ginger Root: Gives a peppery jolt; helps with stomach issues and cuts down on swelling.

Red bell pepper: Adds sweetness and color; is rich in vitamins A and C.

Water Chestnuts: A crunchy, low-calorie, high-fiber food.

Soy Sauce.

Imparts umami and saltiness; yields some minerals.

Hoisin sauce: Sweet and salty; deepen flavor.

Chili Paste: Adds spice; has capsaicin which speeds up metabolism.

Sesame Oil: Nutty scent; imparts healthful lipids and antioxidants.

Lettuce Butter: The leaves are soft and crisp, low in calories and high in vitamins.

Peanuts, when roasted, yield a nutrient-dense topping that contributes both protein and good fats.

Their crunchiness adds texture to dishes.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound ground pork (or chicken)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1/4 cup water chestnuts, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chili paste or Sichuan spicy bean paste
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 head of butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
• Cilantro leaves for garnishing (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, warm the vegetable oil. Add ground pork (or chicken) and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. This should take about 5-7 minutes.

2. Introduce the minced garlic and the grated ginger to the skillet, and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until you’ve got something very aromatic.

3. Combine the diced red bell pepper and water chestnuts, cooking until the bell pepper is tender, about 3-4 minutes.

4. Lower the heat to medium and introduce the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and chili paste into the mixture. Combine thoroughly and allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes, letting the flavors intermingle.

5. Add the green onions and toasted sesame oil. Stir everything together and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat.

6. Remove the leaves of lettuce from the head of lettuce. Wash and dry them well.

7. For serving, spoon the pork (or chicken) mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf.

8. Add chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro leaves to the top of each wrap, if you’d like, to amp up the crunch and flavor.

9. Place the filled lettuce wraps on a serving platter.

10. Sichuan-style lettuce wraps are a fun, flavorful, and healthy way to kick off a meal or serve as an appetizer. Enjoy them immediately.

Equipment Needed

1. Large skillet
2. Wooden spoon
3. Grater (for ginger)
4. Knife
5. Cutting board
6. Measuring spoons
7. Measuring cups
8. Spatula
9. Mixing bowl (optional for combining liquids)
10. Serving platter

FAQ

• Can I use another type of meat instead of pork?Certainly, you can replace the ground pork with any of these options, depending on what you like:

  – ground chicken
  – ground turkey
  – even ground beef

• What can I use if I don’t have rice vinegar?When rice vinegar is not accessible, possibilities for substitute include apple cider vinegar and white wine vinegar.
• Is there a substitute for hoisin sauce?In a pinch, you can combine soy sauce, peanut butter, and a bit of honey to substitute for hoisin sauce.
• How spicy is the dish?The heat can be controlled by changing the quantity of the chili paste. To make this dish less spicy, reduce the amount of chili paste. If you want to turn up the heat, add a little extra.
• Can I make the wraps vegetarian?Certainly, here is a way to replace the meat with vegetarian components while maintaining the original form of the recipe:

  For a vegetarian version, you can use crumbled tofu or a mix of mushrooms instead of meat.

  In this recipe, tofu is a protein-rich alternative that can be flavored to mimic the taste of ground meat. Likewise, a mixture of shiitake and cremini mushrooms—sautéed, chopped, and seasoned—can stand in for the beef in stuffing bell peppers or making chiles rellenos, hearty dishes that are commonly made with ground meat.

• What can I use instead of butter lettuce?Alternatives to butter lettuce wraps can be made from iceberg lettuce, romaine, or even cabbage leaves.
• How do I store leftovers?Keep the filling in a sealed container and in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days. To assemble the wraps, do so as needed so the lettuce remains fresh and crisp.

Substitutions and Variations

Pork (or chicken) that is ground: You can replace it with ground turkey or tofu for a vegetarian version.
Tamari: A gluten-free soy sauce alternative. For those who want even more flavor, use coconut aminos or liquid aminos for a gluten- and soy-free option.
Hoisin sauce: If you don’t have hoisin sauce, you can use oyster sauce in a pinch. Whisk together this homemade version using ingredients you may already have for an even closer culinary experience.
Rice vinegar can be replaced with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar. These are good substitutes for rice vinegar.
Sichuan spicy bean paste or chili paste: Use sambal oelek or sriracha to deliver a different, but equally potent, spicy kick.

Pro Tips

1. Enhance Flavor Depth For a deeper flavor, you can marinate the ground pork or chicken in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a bit of sesame oil for about 30 minutes before cooking.

2. Crisp Lettuce To ensure your lettuce leaves are crisp and refreshing, chill them in the refrigerator before serving. This adds a nice contrast to the warm filling.

3. Texture Variation For additional texture, consider adding finely diced mushrooms to the mixture along with the bell peppers and water chestnuts. They blend well with the other ingredients and add an umami kick.

4. Spice Adjustment Adjust the level of heat to your preference by either increasing or decreasing the amount of chili paste. You can also serve extra chili paste on the side so guests can adjust spiciness individually.

5. Peanut Topping Variation For extra flavor, toast the peanuts before chopping them. This will enhance their nutty flavor and provide extra crunch. You can also toss them with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of honey for a sweet-savory touch.