Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The best way to eat lettuce

Chicken lettuce wraps are one of my favorite dishes to eat. I love the savoriness of the chicken paired with the crispy crunch of butter lettuce. When the lettuce is cold, it makes this amazing hot-and-cold contrast in your mouth. This was my favorite dinner I made this week, so let’s make it!

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

• 2 Tbsp oyster sauce

• 2 Tbsp water

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tsp water

For the Lettuce Wraps:

• 1 tsp cornstarch

• 2 tsp red wine vinegar

• 2 tsp water

• 1 ½ lb ground chicken

• 2 Tbsp oil

• 1 tsp ginger, minced

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 4 oz shiitake mushrooms, diced

• 1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, diced

• 2 green onions, sliced

For the Bento:

• Butter lettuce

• 2 cups steamed rice

• Lightly marinated cucumber salad

• Microgreens (garnish)

• Hoisin sauce (for dipping)

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Directions

1. Make the sauce:
In a small bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients together and set aside.

2. Marinate the chicken:
In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, red wine vinegar, water, and ground chicken. Mix it with your hands, then let it marinate for 20 minutes.

3. Cook the chicken filling:

• Heat oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry it for about 3 minutes, until it’s mostly cooked through.

• Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.

• Stir in the mushrooms and water chestnuts, and cook for another minute.

• Add the sauce to the pan and stir constantly until the sauce starts to thicken. Take it off the heat and set aside.

  

Quick Cucumber Salad

This is a super simple and refreshing cucumber salad that pairs perfectly with the cod.

Ingredients:

• 1 English cucumber, thinly sliced

• 1 tsp salt

• 3 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 Tbsp sesame oil

Directions:

1. Sprinkle salt over the sliced cucumbers to draw out moisture. Let them sit for about 5 minutes.

2. While the cucumbers sit, mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil in a small bowl.

3. Toss the cucumbers in the dressing. Garnish with sesame seeds and set aside.

4. Build your bento:

• Carb: Steamed rice.

• Protein: Minced chicken with butter lettuce.

• Vegetable: Lightly marinated cucumber salad and microgreens.

• Dipping sauce: Hoisin sauce on the side.