Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
I never really liked Asian food until I traveled to China. It was there that I found the dishes to be flavorful and complex; wholesome and exciting.It's been nearly two years (TWO YEARS!) since that wonderful trip to adopt my daughter. Since the the Chinese New Year is this weekend (January 26, 2009), I thought it appropriate to pull out a favorite Asian recipe to share with y'all.
No, I didn't eat anything like this in China. Yes, it's Americanized, but H-E-L-L-O, it's good.
Blessings, happiness, and prosperity! (gung hei faat choih)
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (such as Sriracha)
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 dash sea salt
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
8 Boston lettuce leaves (about 1 head)
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup bean sprouts 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
chopped peanuts or cashews
Combine first 9 ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Reserve 2 tablespoons oil mixture. Place remaining oil mixture in a large Ziploc plastic bag. Add chicken breast halves; seal and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from bag, and discard marinade. Heat a large nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; grill 12 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once. Let stand 5 minutes before thinly slicing. Divide chicken evenly among lettuce leaves; top each lettuce leaf with 2 tbsp mint, 1 tbsp sprouts, and about 1 tsp reserved oil mixture. Serve with lime wedges. Garnish with chopped nuts. 4 servings.
Thanks to my friend Katy for introducing me to these and making them for our "coming home" party for our girl. And thanks to my friend Kelly for reminding me that these wraps exist, that they are good and I should eat them, and that the New Year is upon us.
More recipes over at the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.
7 comments:
The cashews sound really good!! However, now that I read the ingredients, it doesn't sound too bad - something I might like to taste but have a back-up plan JUST IN CASE.
TWO (?) YEARS - it seems like yesterday when we were fortunate enough to be able to take care of C&Z while you were in China. Loved every minute of it, except when we were sick with colds!!
Oh, yes. I remember this. Very good! Scott likes a BUN around his meat, so I'll have to make this when he's not home! Luckily my kiddos are adventurous eaters. Thanks for the recipe!
Me and My hubby are heading to PF Changs for a date night tonight so we will be enjoying some lettuce wraps, can't wait. Thanks for the recipe, I am sure Jeremy would be thrilled if he came home one day and I had these for him!
oohh yum!!
ohboyohboyohboyohboy!
Just yesterday I considered ordering these at a restaurant, but then I looked at the ingredients listed on the menu and thought, "Surely I could replicate these at home?"
And then I pop onto your blog and--voila! You've given me exactly the recipe my little tastebuds were craving! Yum!
Happy year of the Ox! Have you and your family ever celebrated Chinese New Year in China? If not you really should try to do it one year. It is absolutely incredible - the food, the fireworks, the cloud of happiness that lifts an entire country for a few hours. It's amazing.
Thanks for the recipe! I have had this in China, though it's not one of the most popular dishes.
When we adopted our girl, we were in China the week before the New Year was celebrated. Oh! It was so much fun. It was the year of the pig, and decorations were going up everywhere, and a true "party spirit" was in the air.
Every time I look at my China pictures I think about how much I love that country and the people who live there. It is truly an extraordinary place.
Post a Comment