Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps
One of my most favorite weeknight dinners. I’m honestly too sleepy to write up a blog post deserving of how good these are, so you’re just going to have to trust me and add these to your arsenal. My kiddos love these and I generally serve it up over rice for them, but I love scooping up a big ol spoonful of chicken and nestling into a lettuce cup for myself. It takes me back to the countless dinners I’ve had with my mom at a PF Changs- always ordering lettuce wraps to start, then moving on to Kung Pao Chicken. Memories. :)
You can easily swap out the chicken for turkey, and add in water chestnuts, finely chopped broccoli or green beans if you need. This is a highly versatile dish. Just keep the sauce ingredients the same but use what you have in your fridge for the rest of it. Sometimes I serve with a spicy mayonnaise drizzled on top because we like it spicy over here at the vK house. Also, if hoisin sauce and oyster sauce aren’t already in your pantry- please head to your nearest Asian grocer and stock up!
PS- the fresh cilantro and basil really add so much flavor to this dish. I wouldn’t make it without. The combination of the two fresh herbs works so, so well with the spices and other flavors going on in this dish.
CASHEW CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS
Yields 4 servings. Prep and cook time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 T sesame oil
1 lb ground chicken
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T ground ginger
2 scallions, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2-3 carrots, diced
⅓ cup cashews, plus additional for garnish
Large handful fresh cilantro
Large handful fresh basil or Thai basil
Lettuce cups Boston or Bibb lettuce
Sauce Ingredients:
3 T soy sauce
2 T oyster sauce
1 T hoisin sauce
1 T brown sugar
1 T rice vinegar
1 t sriracha
Directions:
1.) Add sesame oil and ground chicken to a pan over medium heat. Add in minced garlic, ginger, and scallions and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add in the remaining diced vegetables, then the sauce ingredients.
2.) Stir over medium heat until the chicken is all the way cooked through and the veggies are slightly softened. Add in cilantro and basil.
3.) Serve a large spoonful of the chicken mixture into lettuce cups, and toss with additional cilantro, cashews and scallions. Enjoy!
