Filipino Chicken Lettuce Wraps
A light and fresh meal featuring savory minced chicken wrapped in crisp lettuce, perfect for warm days.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 250kcal
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground chicken Or finely chopped chicken thigh for juiciness
- 1 head Butter lettuce or romaine hearts For sturdy cups
- 1 cup Onion, diced Along with lots of garlic
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced Essential for flavor
- 1 tsp Ginger, minced Optional, for freshness
- 3 tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Calamansi juice Or lemon or lime juice as a substitute
- 1 tbsp Brown sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp Fish sauce (patis) Optional but adds depth
- 1 cup Carrots, finely diced
- 1 cup Bell pepper, finely diced For color and crunch
- 2 stalks Green onions, sliced For topping
- 1/4 cup Toasted peanuts or cashews Optional, for crunch
Instructions
Preparation
- Prep your lettuce and toppings first. Wash and dry the lettuce leaves. Set out toppings like green onions, chopped peanuts, and extra calamansi wedges.
- Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until it softens. Add garlic and ginger if using, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the ground chicken. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it is no longer pink. Let it simmer a bit if there's extra liquid.
- Stir in finely diced carrots and bell pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until tender but still a bit crisp.
- In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, calamansi juice, brown sugar, and fish sauce. Pour into the pan and toss everything together. Let it bubble for a minute.
- Spoon the hot filling into lettuce cups. Top with green onions and nuts. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure lettuce is dried well to prevent slippage. Use finely chopped veggies for balance, and feel free to adjust the heat level. Meal prep tips include storing filling and lettuce separately.