Beef Lettuce Wraps Hoisin Sauce (Print Version)

Minced beef tossed with hoisin sauce and veggies, served in fresh lettuce leaves for a vibrant dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup diced water chestnuts (optional)
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Sauce

09 - 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili paste (optional)

→ To Serve

14 - 12 to 16 large butter lettuce leaves
15 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
17 - Lime wedges

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Whisk hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha in a bowl; set aside.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté diced onion for 2 minutes until softened.
03 - Incorporate minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef, breaking it up, and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes.
05 - Stir in diced bell pepper and water chestnuts, cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
06 - Pour in the prepared sauce and cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes to evenly coat the mixture.
07 - Remove from heat and fold in sliced green onions.
08 - Spoon the beef mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime before wrapping and serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like takeout but you control the heat, the crunch, and the mess.
  • Everyone builds their own wraps, so picky eaters actually participate without complaining.
  • The whole thing comes together faster than waiting for delivery.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the beef if it releases a lot of fat, or the sauce will turn greasy instead of glossy.
  • Add the green onions off the heat so they stay crisp and bright instead of wilting into mush.
  • Use cold lettuce leaves, they hold up better and add a refreshing contrast to the warm filling.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes before sprinkling them on, it wakes up their flavor in a way that matters.
  • If your lettuce leaves are too small, overlap two of them to make a sturdier wrap that won't fall apart mid bite.
  • Add a pinch of sugar to the sauce if your hoisin is more salty than sweet, it balances everything out.

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