Savory Beef Lettuce Wraps (Printable Version)
Ground beef with aromatic vegetables and Asian flavors served in crisp lettuce leaves.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 1 medium carrot, grated
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if desired)
10 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
14 - 1 teaspoon sugar
→ To Serve
15 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and rinsed
16 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
18 - Lime wedges (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in diced red bell pepper and grated carrot; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened.
05 - Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha (if using), and sugar in a small bowl. Pour over beef mixture and stir to coat. Cook an additional 2 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Add thinly sliced spring onions, stir briefly, then remove from heat.
07 - Spoon the beef mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro if desired, and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It hits the table in under 35 minutes, which means weeknight dinners suddenly feel exciting instead of rushed.
- Everyone gets to build their own wraps, turning dinner into something interactive and a little bit fun.
- The flavors are bold and complex, but the ingredient list stays totally manageable.
02 -
- Don't skip the step of breaking the beef into small pieces as it cooks; this gives you better texture and helps the sauce coat everything evenly.
- Lettuce leaves go from crisp to wilted quickly, so assemble wraps right before eating rather than building a pile beforehand.
- The sauce needs that two-minute cook after being added so the flavors bond together instead of tasting like separate ingredients.
03 -
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan right before serving so they're warm and fragrant instead of sitting around losing their shine.
- Don't crowd your lettuce leaves on the table; keep them in the head so they stay crisp and cold against the warm filling.