Asian Lettuce Wraps, $8-$9 per family

Asian Lettuce Wraps (medium to hard)

Servings: 8 Appetizer; 4 main dish servings

INGREDIENTS

16 Boston Bibb or Butter Letttuce Leaves

1 lb lean ground chicken, turkey, or beef

1 tbsp cooking oil

1 lg yellow onion, finely chopped

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

2 tbsp soy sauce (or more to taste)

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

2 tsp freshly grated ginger (or pickled ginger is fine)

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

Asian chile pepper sauce or any hot sauce (to taste)

1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 cup shredded carrots (or more , if desired)

1 cup shredded cabbage (or more, if desired)

4 tsp Asian (dark) sesame oil

DIRECTIONS

Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not tear them. Set aside.

In a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground chicken in 1 tbsp of oil, stirring often. Drain, and set aside to cool. Saute the yellow onion in the same pan over medium heart until tender, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, rice wine vinegar, and chile pepper sauce to the onions, stir, and let simmer 1-2 minutes. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, browned meat and sesame oil, and continue cooking until the onions, carrots, and cabbage just begin to wilt about 3-4 minutes.