Beef Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin Sauce (Printable)
Ground beef and vegetables tossed in hoisin sauce, served in crisp lettuce cups for a fresh, flavorful Asian-inspired appetizer.
# What You Need:
→ Protein & Vegetables
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 1 carrot, peeled and finely shredded
08 - 4 green onions, thinly sliced
09 - 1 head butter or Bibb lettuce, leaves separated and washed
→ Sauce
10 - 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce, optional
→ Garnishes
15 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
16 - Fresh cilantro leaves
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
02 - Drain excess fat if necessary. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant and onion begins to soften.
03 - Stir in red bell pepper and shredded carrot. Cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are just tender-crisp.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha if using.
05 - Pour prepared sauce over beef mixture and stir well to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes until everything is heated through and evenly coated.
06 - Remove from heat and stir in sliced green onions.
07 - Spoon beef mixture into the center of each prepared lettuce leaf. Top with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro leaves.
08 - Wrap lettuce around filling and serve immediately.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the warm savory filling and cool crisp lettuce creates this addictive temperature play that keeps you coming back for just one more.
- You can adjust the heat level for everyone at the table, making it perfect for those family dinners where preferences vary wildly.
02 -
- Draining excess fat after browning the beef is crucial or your filling will end up swimming in grease and make the lettuce leaves soggy.
- Allowing guests to assemble their own wraps at the table keeps the lettuce crisp and turns dinner into an interactive experience everyone enjoys.
03 -
- Store leftover lettuce leaves wrapped in slightly damp paper towels inside a partially open zip-top bag to maintain their crispness without becoming soggy.
- If serving as a party appetizer, pre-assemble a few wraps and secure with decorative toothpicks for easy grab-and-go noshing.