16Boston Bibb, butter leaf, or Romaine lettuce leaves
1poundlean ground chicken(sub: ground turkey or beef)
1tablespoonavocado oil or olive oil
1/2large yellow onion, finely diced
2clovesfresh garlic, minced
2teaspoonsfreshly grated ginger or ginger paste
2tablespoonssoy sauce
1/2cupall-natural hoisin sauce(check the ingredients to make sure they are recognizable)
2tablespoonsrice wine vinegar
4teaspoonssesame oil
Sriracha chili hot sauce to taste(sub: any hot sauce)
18-ounce canwater chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
1/2bunchgreen onions, sliced
1cupshredded carrots(sub: 1 cup coleslaw mix)
1cupshredded cabbage(sub: 1 cup coleslaw mix)
Optional for serving: 2 cups cooked brown rice, chopped peanuts, more sliced green onions
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Instructions
Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not to tear them. Set aside. (Tip: Also, make sure you've prepped all your veggies according to the ingredient list above, so they are ready and waiting.)
In a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground chicken in 1 tablespoon of oil, stirring often. Drain, and set aside to cool.
Saute the yellow onion in the same pan until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and hot sauce to the onions, stir, and let simmer 1-2 minutes.
Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, and browned chicken, and continue cooking until the green onions, carrots, and cabbage begin to wilt, about 3-4 minutes. If mixture seems too dry, add a little more hoisin sauce and/or soy sauce to taste (but be cautious so it doesn't get too salty). Add in water if the mixture gets too salty.
To serve, spoon a portion of rice (optional) and the meat mixture into a lettuce leaf. Top with chopped peanuts, more green onions, and more hot sauce, if desired. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito. Prepare to get messy and enjoy!
Freezer Instructions
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1-4. Let the veggie/meat mixture completely cool. Store tightly in a freezer meal bag or container.Prepare From Frozen: When ready to serve, thaw veggie/meat mixture completely. Warm up over low heat on stove, in microwave, or in the crockpot. If it's dry, add a splash of chicken broth or water. Serve according to Step 5.
Notes/Tips
Gluten-Free Version: In place of soy sauce, use Tamari gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos. Make sure your hoisin sauce is gluten-free.Crock Pot Instructions: In large pan, saute the chicken and onions in cooking oil over medium-high heat until cooked through. Add chicken/onion mixture to slow cooker insert, along with the rest of the ingredients (garlic through cabbage), except the lettuce and rice. Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Serve as directed.Instant Pot Instructions: Using the saute setting, saute the chicken and onions in the oil until the chicken is done and the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Press Cancel. Stir in the ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, hot sauce, water chestnuts, green onions, shredded carrots, and shredded cabbage to the onions. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes and quick release the pressure. Follow Step 5.