What is the best lettuce for lettuce wraps?

Smoother butterhead lettuce leaves are ideal for wrapping as they're super flexible and wide enough wrap around and keep all the toppings inside. Butterhead lettuce is the key to loading up our peanut-sesame chicken lettuce wraps, caramelized tofu lettuce wraps, and our basil avocado shrimp salad wraps.

What is lettuce wrap sauce made of?

Ingredients for Chicken Lettuce Wraps The key ingredient is hoisin — a sweet, salty, slightly tangy, spiced sauce that's like the Chinese equivalent to American barbecue sauce. Here, I mix it with some soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil to make a sticky glaze for the chicken in our wraps.

What to eat with lettuce?

Lettuce recipes Chicken caesar salad. Charred lettuce with ranch dressing. Pork and lemongrass meatballs in lettuce cups. Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. Coronation chicken. Niçoise salad. Sweet potato burgers. Jerk chicken skewers with mango salad. More items...

What is the most healthiest lettuce to eat?

While all lettuce is going to provide you with healthy vitamins and minerals, romaine lettuce is the most nutrient-dense, says registered dietitian Danielle Crumble Smith. “It's going to have the highest amount of vitamin A, K, C,” she says.

Are lettuce wraps healthier than bread?

Lettuce wraps are much lower in calories than bread , and they are very fresh. Corn Tortillas → Corn tortillas tend to be cleaner than regular bread. You can even use a tortilla to replace a pizza crust which is much lighter option.

Are lettuce wraps healthy for weight loss?

Swapping a carb-heavy tortilla with lettuce is a great way to save on calories and carbs .

Is eating lettuce wraps healthy?

Lettuce wraps are lower in calories and carbohydrates than bread wraps . This can be beneficial for people who are trying to lose weight or manage their blood sugar levels. Lettuce wraps are a good source of fiber, which can help promote regular bowel movements, lower cholesterol levels, and help with weight management.

Can you eat lettuce everyday?

This is a healthy habit and the side effects of lettuce are very rare. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to answer the question of whether eating a lot of lettuce is good? But similar to other herbs used daily, users can use lettuce every day but in moderation, do not overdo it .

What not to store with lettuce?

Separate Ethylene Producers and Ethylene Sensitive Produce Ethylene Producers Ethylene Sensitive Peaches and Nectarines Leafy Greens Peppers Lettuce Potatoes Onions Tomatoes Squash 7 more rows Aug 5, 2022

Can you eat lettuce salad everyday?

" Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time ," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

What kind of lettuce is best for sandwich wraps?

What Kind of Lettuce For Perfect Lettuce Wrap Sandwiches? Iceberg lettuce ! Maybe not the most nutritious, but we've tried this with romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, and more, and nothing beats the crunch and ease of wrapping like the iceberg lettuce.

Is iceberg lettuce good for lettuce wraps?

One of the best ways to enjoy iceberg lettuce is make lettuce wraps . This post was updated on 3/12/2024.

{Larb} Healthy Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe — Salt & Wind Travel (2024)

BY Aida Mollenkamp
PublishedJuly 17, 2016
Updated November 10, 2022

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Around here, we have a major love for Thai food. From pad thai to pad kee mao to papaya salad and larb, which is the inspiration for this Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe.

The adoration of Thai food is unsurprising since my hometown of Los Angeles has the largest Thai population outside of Asia and is home to the world’s first Thai Town.

There are a lot of reasons to love Thailand but, obviously, we always come back to Thai food. We are lucky enough to have renowned spots like the spot-on Southern Thai food at Jitlada, the classic noodle spot that is Pa Ord, the updated staple Tuk tuk Thai, and the contemporary spot of Night + Market.

And when it comes to the food we’re partial to the classic meat salad known as larb. This Northern Thai dish was all over the Northern Thai region of Isaan when I visited and each place made its own version.

What Is Larb Moo?

After spending a week running around the Isaan region of Thailand, one thing was certain: the region has some of the best food around.

It’s home to all sorts of bold, spicy food, one of which—larb, a sort of ground meat salad—is my standard order whenever I go to Thai restaurants. It is one of those dishes that, at its best, hit all of the major Thai flavors: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and funky.

Variations On Larb Thai Pork Salad

While in Isaan, I had versions made with pork, beef, and duck and one was better than the next.

But, to make it a weeknight-friendly dish, we’re sharing a basic recipe for larb that is more of a Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe.

Often, I serve in lettuce as a makeshift lettuce wrap (which is not traditional!), but feel free to make it more spicy, sour, sweet, or funky to fit your tastes.

Make It Traditional

Just FYI, to be totally traditional, you’d mix toasted ground rice into the final dish. If you’re so inclined, go for it, but we have to say we like it just as is.

Healthy Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Oh, and this version is healthier than most and easy enough that you could make it for a weeknight meal.

But, if you’re like us, you’ll likely be making it for everything from a girls’ night to your next dinner party because it’s got tons of flavor and is pretty healthy.

Gostock up on all your cooking essentialsthen head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us bytagging@saltandwindand#swsocietyon social!

{Larb Moo} Chicken Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

This is a weeknight Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe inspired by larb, a sort of ground meat salad found in Northern Thailand. This is a basic recipe for larb that I serve in lettuce as a makeshift lettuce wrap but feel free to make it more spicy, sour, sweet, or funky to fit your tastes.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main, Snack

Cuisine American, Thai

Diet Gluten Free, Low Calorie

Servings 4

Calories 249 kcal

Ingredients

For The Sauce:

3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
3 serrano or Thai chile sliced (optional)

For The Onions:

1 tablespoon coconut, grapeseed, or peanut oil
4 medium shallots quartered and thinly sliced
6 medium green onions (aka scallions) trimmed and thinly sliced (optional)
2 inches galangal or ginger peeled and grated
4 medium garlic cloves peeled and grated

For The Meat:

1 pound lean ground chicken can use ground pork or turkey
1 teaspoon ground chile powder or 1-2 teaspoons chili sauce
kosher salt

To Serve:

1 kaffir lime leaf minced (optional)
1/3 cup fresh mint (or culantro or cilantro or a mix) plus more for garnish
1 head Romaine, Red Lettuce, or Boston lettuce washed and separated
Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

Make The Sauce:Combine the fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, sugar, and a few Thai chiles (if using) in a small jar, close, and shake until the sugar is dissolved. (You could also whisk this – just make sure that sugar is well mixed in.) Taste the sauce and, if you want it fresher and brighter and less funky, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of lime juice.
3 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
Cook The Onions:Heat the oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add shallots and the white parts of the green onions (save the green parts for later) and cook, stirring a few times, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Add galangal or ginger and garlic and cook a few seconds until fragrant.
1 tablespoon coconut, grapeseed, or peanut oil, 4 medium shallots, 6 medium green onions (aka scallions), 2 inches galangal, 4 medium garlic cloves
Cook The Meat:Add pork, chicken or turkey and, use a wooden spoon or spatula, to break the meat into bite-sized pieces. Season with chile powder, chile sauce (if using), and some kosher salt and cook, stirring rarely, until meat is cooked through and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sauce ingredients and cook until there's only enough left to coat the meat mixture, about 1 minute more.
1 pound lean ground chicken, 1 teaspoon ground chile powder, kosher salt
To Serve: Remove from heat, stir in remaining scallions, kaffir lime, and the herbs. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve hot or cold, filling each lettuce cups with a few spoonfuls of filling. Top with additional herbs and lime wedges, as desired.
1/3 cup fresh mint, 1 head Romaine, Red Lettuce, or Boston lettuce, Lime wedges, 1 kaffir lime leaf

PERSONAL NOTES

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Nutrition

Serving: 4 servingsCalories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 22gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 1147mgPotassium: 929mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1888IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg

Keyword northern thai recipes, thai lettuce cups, thai minced pork salad

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About The Author

Aida Mollenkamp

Aida Mollenkamp is a food and travel expert, author, chef, Food Network personality, and founder of the boutique travel company, In all that she does, Aida aims to help discerning travelers taste the world.

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Aida Mollenkamp

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