Asian Rooster Lettuce Wraps – Gluten Free on a Shoestring

This straightforward recipe for Asian hen lettuce wraps is made with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar and wine, and simply a contact of honey. A household favourite in my home!

PF Chang’s is a type of restaurant chains within the U.S. that has had a gluten free menu since means, means again. I bear in mind going there with my household, together with my gluten free son, and being so grateful that they even knew what gluten was. The truth that they may accommodate him and we might all order the identical meals off a menu was a minor miracle.

Today, it might virtually be arduous to search out somebody who hasn’t not less than heard the time period “gluten free” thrown round. There’s gluten free pasta accessible in almost each giant grocery retailer you could find—and it would even be proper subsequent to the standard pasta within the retailer.

However PF Chang’s will all the time have a particular place in my ?. We’ve not been there in years, however their hen lettuce wraps are nonetheless a favourite. We simply have them at residence now.

This recipe is so lifeless straightforward, and would not even require any specialty substances like gluten free hoisin sauce (which you can purchase, however might be tough to search out). I’ve managed to keep away from utilizing hoisin by including some further soy sauce, a little bit of honey, and a cornstarch thickener so the feel of the sauce is excellent.

The stability of flavors (umami, saltiness, and a contact of sweetness) cannot be beat.

PF Chang’s could serve these lettuce wraps as an appetizer, however I wish to serve them as a fundamental dish. I serve a number of the hen combination in lettuce cups, for the reason that gentle and savory hen combination pairs so nicely with the crunch of the lettuce. The remaining, I serve over fluffy white or brown rice.

Some recipe notes:

• In a rush? Attempt changing the minced garlic with about half as a lot garlic powder, the diced onion with half as a lot dried minced onion, and the contemporary ginger with half as a lot dried floor ginger (dried spices and aromatics are all the time about twice as potent as contemporary).
• For those who’d choose to make use of gluten free hoisin sauce, use 1/4 cup of it instead of 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce/tamari, the honey and the cornstarch.
• Love contemporary ginger however can not seem to hold it readily available while you want it? Attempt inserting the entire root in a freezer-safe zip prime bag and storing it within the freezer. Enable it defrost barely earlier than chopping it (or just shaving some off with a vegetable peeler). You will by no means end up with out contemporary ginger once more!

Asian Rooster Lettuce Wraps

Prep time:
10 minutes

Prepare dinner time:
>10 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Elements

1/4 cup (64 g) gluten free soy sauce or tamari

1 tablespoon (9 g) cornstarch (or strive arrowroot)

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon rice wine (can exchange with extra rice vinegar)

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

2 tablespoons (42 g) honey

1 tablespoon minced contemporary ginger (or 1 1/2 teaspoons floor)

2 contemporary scallions, chopped (white and inexperienced components)

2 tablespoons (28 g) impartial cooking oil (like grapeseed or canola)

1 pound floor hen, pork or turkey

1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

4 ounces water chestnuts (1/2 an 8 ounce can), drained and diced

1 head Boston lettuce

Directions

• In a small mixing bowl, place about half of the soy sauce and the cornstarch, and whisk till easy. Add the remaining soy sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, sesame oil, honey and ginger, and whisk till well-combined. Add about three-quarters of the scallions, and blend to mix.

• In a medium, heavy-bottom skillet or wok, warmth 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil over medium-high warmth till rippling. Add the bottom meat, and prepare dinner, stirring to interrupt it up into small items, till not pink (about 5 minutes). Take away the hen from the skillet and set it apart. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, add the diced onion and prepare dinner for 4 minutes, stirring sometimes. Add the minced garlic and prepare dinner, stirring ceaselessly, till the onion is translucent and the garlic is aromatic (about 2 minutes extra). Return the cooked meat to the skillet, add the soy sauce combination, and blend to mix. Prepare dinner till the sauce begins to thicken (1 to 2 minutes). Take away from the warmth, and add the diced water chestnuts.

• Separate the leaves of Boston lettuce from the warmth and spoon the hen combination into every as a cup. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped scallions and serve.