Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

By á-702

Ingredients

• TOPPINGS:
• SERVES: 4 as an appetizer, 2 as the main course
• 1 head fresh iceberg lettuce (this type works best for this recipe)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal (or ginger), grated
• 1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely sliced (omit altogether if you prefer very mild wraps)
• 2 shallots, sliced finely
• 1/2 cup firm tofu, cut into "matchsticks" OR 1/2 cup cooked chicken or pork, shredded, OR 1/2 cup cooked baby shrimp
• 1 carrot, grated or cut into thin strips
• 4-5 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 egg (omit if vegan)
• 1/2 cup shredded cabbage (red is very good, but any type will work)
• 3 spring onions, sliced lengthwise into matchstick-like pieces
• approx. 2 cups bean sprouts
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. regular soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. fish sauce OR 2+1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce)
• 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce - Vegetarians: use vegetarian oyster sauce (available at most Asian food stores)
• 1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped if leaves are large
• 1/2 cup fresh dry roasted peanuts, roughly chopped or ground
• OTHER: 2 Tbsp. oil for stir-frying

Details

Adapted from thaifood.about.com

Preparation

Step 1

Drizzle oil into a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, galangal (or ginger), chili, and shallots. Stir-fry one minute, or until fragrant. Stir-frying tip: add a Tbsp. water whenever the wok/pan gets too dry instead of more oil.
Add tofu (or shrimp/chicken/pork), carrot, shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, and spring onions. As you stir-fry, add the lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir-fry about 1 minute.
Push ingredients to the side of the wok or pan, and crack in the egg. Stir-fry quickly to break the yolk. Mix in with the other ingredients.
Add the bean sprouts and stir-fry briefly to mix. Remove from heat and do a taste test for salt, adding 1 Tbsp more fish sauce if not salty enough.
Cut off the stem part of the iceburg lettuce so it's easier to separate the leaves. Now place the lettuce, sir-fried filling, and the toppings on your table in separate bowls/plates, allowing family or guests to make their own wraps.
To assemble, take a whole lettuce leaf and place 1-2 heaping tablespoons of filling in the center. Top with a sprinkling of fresh basil and peanuts. Then wrap up and eat! (For those who like it extra spicy, Thai chilli sauce can be added as another topping.) ENJOY