These wraps are so versatile; use ground pork, chicken, turkey, or beef - or make veggie wraps. You could use tortilla or place atop shredded lettuce in a bowl, instead of butter lettuce wrap. So many options with Asian! #lettucewraps
Ingredients
1 tbsp oil
1 onion, small diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1" knob fresh ginger, minced (1 tbsp) or 2 tsp dried
2 celery stalks, diced
2 lb ground meat of your choice (turkey is great!)
1 tsp dried lemon grass (see Tips and Tricks)
2 tsp chinese 5 spice
2 carrots, shredded
3 mix of mini peppers (about half of a standard) sliced thin julienne
1 cup zucchini, small diced
3 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock or water
squeeze lime juice
3 tbsp cornstarch
2-3 tbsp cashews or peanuts, roughly chopped
scallions, chopped
coconut, toasted (see Tips and Tricks)
garnish: chopped basil, mint, cilantro
sesame oil, drizzle
lettuce leaf from butter variety, or flat bread
Instructions
Read Susie's Tips and Tricks below
1. In a large saute pan, place oil in moderately hot pan, then add onion, garlic, ginger, and celery. Let cook 3 to 4 minutes. Lower heat slightly and add ground meat, sprinkling with Chinese 5 Spice and lemon grass (see Tips and Tricks). Be sure to break up the meat into small pieces. Let cook 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Toss in peppers, carrots, zucchini; let soften just a tad (I like the squash to have a bit of bite). Confirm that your protein is fully cooked; ground meats should be cooked to 165F.
3. In a small bowl, combine: soy sauce, chicken stock or water, rice vinegar or lime juice, with cornstarch. Let simmer to thicken, then garnish with nuts, herbs, and crispy coconut. Serve in lettuce leaf, flat bread, or alternatively in a bowl with lettuce.
Susie's Tips and Tricks
You could use water chestnuts as well. I chose to use celery as my 'crunch'.
If you don't have lemon grass, you can omit or substitute a spicy sauce like Sriracha, or Thai Chili sauce.
I love using a julienne vegetable peeler - Quick, simple, and effective!
Toast coconut until crispy in a 350F oven for 7 to 10 minutes; watch carefully. It adds a sweetness kids might like. I recommend adding some spicy Sriracha for a more adult flavour profile.
Chinese 5 spice is a mixture of 5 or more spices that can include: Star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, fennel, and black pepper.
Some extra veggies couldn't hurt - perhaps some corn, finely shredded cabbage, snow peas, or add some rice.
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