Honey Garlic Beef Lettuce Wraps

Love lettuce wraps, easy to prepare for a cool summer meal.  

Honey Garlic Beef Lettuce Wraps

Cook's Notes: The inspiration for this recipe came from the Star Tribune's MN food writer Meredith Deeds for her recently published recipe Thursday July 19th . But as I worked through the recipe significant changes were made. 

Mea Culpa Meredith. I used sirloin instead of flank steak for a less chewier taste. Serving rice with wraps was suggested but I substituted  a slaw mixture  from a package of Asian Chopped Salad Mix found in produce. The recipe make 7-8 individual lettuce wraps. I was quite happy our local grocery store carried live lettuce or butter lettuce leaves perfect for the wraps. Thanks to my neighbor Kathleen for adding it to her grocery run. The wraps were just DELICIOUS!

Ingredients:  

• 3/4 lb. sirloin
• Butter lettuce leaves
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 3/4 cup sweet onion, diced
• 3/4 cup sweet mini red bell pepper 
•  2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 TB. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. dried ginger
• Dash red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup orange juice 
• 1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch 
• 2 cups from a package of Asian Chopped Salad Mix (produce section) 

Directions:

• Place the package of steak in freezer for 20 minutes. Remove and slice meat in thin strips across the grain.
• In a bowl whisk soy sauce, honey, Worcestershire, ginger, pepper flakes, orange juice and cornstarch. Set aside. 
• Chop peppers and onions, mince garlic. 
• In a fry pan heat sesame oil add in meat strips, onions, peppers and garlic. Stir fry until meat is cooked but still a little red. You don't want to overcook meat.  Remove meat, onions peppers and garlic from pan and set aside.  Wipe pan clean. Add in sauce and cook on low until thickened. Add  meat mixture back in and mix well.
• To serve add 2 cups slaw mix to meat mixture and place a scoopful in lettuce leaves.
  
  In the chopped salad mixture are small tortilla strips. I added some to the lettuce wraps for an extra crunch.  

 For some other lettuce wraps recipes on Ever Ready try these links

Curried Chicken Lettuce Wraps

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/02/curried-chicken-salad-lettuce-wraps.html

Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps 
http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/10/lettuce-wraps.html

Copycat PF Chang Lettuce Wraps 

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/08/copycat-recipe-pf-changs-chicken.html

Curried Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Gotcha Covered with Bibb or Butter and Romaine Lettuce Wraps. They're a healthy alternative to flour tortilla shells or corn taco shells with less carbs and easy to roll with filling tucked inside to make a great wrap. 

Ever Ready has previously posted at http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/search?q=+lettuce+wraps these lettuce wraps 

Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Chipolte Lettuce Wraps

with another twist on the wraps-Curried Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps  

Greek yogurt was substituted for part of the mayonnaise and romaine lettuce used instead of bread. Less calories and you won’t notice a difference. A bacon splurge is optional. Make the salad early in the day for flavors to meld. This recipe serve 4 and was adapted from dammdelicioius.net  

Ingredients:

• 3 slices bacon cooked, diced
• 3 cups chicken, cooked and diced
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 1/4 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup celery, diced each 1/2 cup onion, diced 
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. curry powder
• 1 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1 TB. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 4-6 Romaine lettuce leaves
• 1 cup Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 avocado, halved, peeled, seeded and diced

Directions:

• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine chicken, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, celery, onions, spices, lemon juice and Dijon; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the chicken mixture into the center of a lettuce leaf, taco-style, garnished with bacon, tomato and avocado, if desired.

Lettuce Wraps

Bibb or Butter Lettuce Wraps are a healthy alternative to flour tortilla shells or corn taco shells. They are easy to roll with filling tucked inside making a great wrap.  

I have previously posted a recipe for copycat PF Changs  Chicken Lettuce Wraps

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/08/copycat-recipe-pf-changs-chicken.html

Here are 3 more recipes great for entertaining and family style meals. Each person can build their own.  

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

• Bibb or Butter Lettuce Leaves
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced.
• 1 package of taco seasoning mix
• tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa

Directions:

• Brown meat with diced onions. Crumble and drain.
• Add seasoning mix to water according to package directions.
• Add to cooked ground beef in pan and cook uncovered 10 minutes. 
• Fill lettuce leaves with meat filling, top with tomatoes, shredded cheese and salsa. 

 

Chicken Chipolte Lettuce Wraps 

• 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 pound chicken breast
• 2 – 3 chipotle peppers (depending on your love of heat)
• 3 Tbs. adobo sauce (that comes from the jar)
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
• 1 lime
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 head butter lettuce, rinsed and leaves separated
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

• Turn on the broiler. Arrange the corn on a rimmed baking sheet with a Tbs. of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Broil the corn for about 5 minutes, or until they start to slightly char and turn crispy. You can toss them a couple of times throughout. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining 2 Tbs. oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sear for 6 minutes on each side until cooked through and browned all over. Move to a cutting board and let sit for 5 minutes. Then dice the chicken.
• In a food processor, combine the cilantro, lime juice, chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce. Process until smooth.
• Add the chicken back to the pan, along with the chipotle sauce, freshly diced red bell pepper and roasted corn. Toss until combined.
• Serve a couple of tablespoons of the chicken mixture in each lettuce cup and garnish with scallions.

Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps

Cook's note: These wraps are flavorful and low in carbs. Recipe from Taste of Home and serves 8.
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 medium carrots, julienned
• 1/2 medium onion, cut into thin slices

FILLING:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce, optional

ASSEMBLY:

• 8 Bibb lettuce leaves
• 1/2 English cucumber, finely chopped
• 1 small sweet red pepper, finely chopped
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup each coarsely chopped fresh basil, cilantro and mint
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
• Hoisin sauce
• Lime wedges

Directions:

• In a small bowl, mix vinegar, sugar and salt until blended. Stir in carrots and onion; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. 
• In a large skillet, cook pork, ginger and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until pork is no longer pink, breaking up pork into crumbles; drain. Stir in soy sauce, mirin, salt, pepper and, if desired, fish sauce.
• To serve, drain carrot mixture. Place pork mixture in lettuce leaves; top with cucumber, red pepper, green onions, carrot mixture and herbs. Sprinkle with jalapeno and peanuts; drizzle with hoisin sauce. Squeeze lime juice over tops. Fold lettuce over filling.

Bon Appetit!

Honey Beef Garlic Lettuce Wraps

Love Lettuce Wraps-perfect for a warm summer evening meal.

Honey Beef Garlic Lettuce Wraps:

Cook's Nores:  

I used sirloin instead of flank steak for a less chewy taste. Serving rice with wraps is a suggested option but I substituted a slaw mixture from a package of Asian Chopped Salad Mix found in produce. The recipe makes 7-8 individual lettuce wraps. I was quite happy our local grocery store carried live lettuce or butter lettuce leaves perfect for the wraps. The wraps were just DELICIOUS!
Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb. sirloin
• Butter lettuce leaves
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3/4 cup sweet onion, diced
• 3/4 cup sweet mini red bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
• Dash red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 cups from a package of Asian Chopped Salad Mix (produce section) 

Directions:

• Place the package of steak in the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove and slice meat in thin strips across the grain.
• In a bowl whisk soy sauce, honey, Worcestershire, ginger, pepper flakes, orange juice, and cornstarch. Set aside.
• Chop peppers and onions, mince garlic.
• In a frypan heat, sesame oil and add in meat strips, onions, peppers, and garlic. Stir fry until meat is cooked but still a little red. You don't want to overcook the meat. 
• Remove meat, onions peppers, and garlic from the pan and set aside. Wipe pan clean. Add in soy sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce pepper flakes orange juice, and cornstarch. Cook on low until thickened. Add meat mixture back in and mix well.
• To serve, add 2 cups slaw mix to meat mixture and place a scoopful in lettuce leaves.
• In the chopped salad mixture there are small tortilla strips. I added some to the lettuce wraps on top for an extra crunch.  
  
  
  
  
  Mini Strawberry Pies   
  
  

Avocado Caprese Chicken Wraps

Take A Bite Out of Summer

Enjoy a Wrap

Avocado Caprese Chicken Wraps

Cook's Notes: This is one amazing wrap sandwich filled with an explosion of healthy flavors and complex textures. It's loaded with slices of creamy avocado, milky mozzarella cheese, crunchy romaine, balsamic marinated tomatoes and chicken topped with fresh basil all wrapped up in a low carb flatbread called Flatout Foldit.
Fresh fruit makes a good side.

Disclaimer: I am not a rep for this product but I am totally won over by the taste and possibilities for use with Flatout Foldit Flatbread. And the best part it's actually good for you! I used Flatout Multi-Grain with Flax made from 100% stone ground whole wheat and high in fiber, with half the calories and half the carbs of two slices of 100% whole wheat bread! Flatout also boasts a gluten free flatbread and many other flavor variations (their Italian Herb would also be amazing in these wraps). I was sold on their new product Flatout Foldit.

For easier preparation the chicken can be marinated and grilled the day before or earlier in the day before serving. Recipe inspiration carlsbadcravings.com
The photo shows the sandwich assembled ready to be folded and then sandwich ready to be served. Ingredients listed are for 4 Flatout Foldit wrap sandwiches.
Sandwich Ingredients:

• 4 Flatout Foldit
• 3 tablespoons each low fat plain Greek Yogurt and Miracle Whip or mayonaise
• 2 chicken breasts, each one halved for easier cooking
• 4 pieces of Romaine lettuce
• 2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced, pat dry on a paper towel
• 2 large avocados, sliced
• Mozzarella slices
• Torn fresh basil leaves

Balsamic Marinade Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or lemon olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions:

• Mix marinade in a blender, taste test to adjust seasonings, reserve 2 teaspoons, set aside. In a plastic bag add remaining marinade and chicken. Marinate for 2 hours. Grill or bake chicken. Cool and thinly slice.
• Drizzle tomatoes with reserved 2 teaspoons of marinade.
• Mix yogurt and Miracle Whip. Divide and spread sauce among 4 Foldits.
• Add rest of ingredients in the following order: Romaine, chicken, tomatoes, avocado slices, cheese slices and basil.

Other Ever Ready Wrap Specials

Honey Garlic Beef Lettuce Wraps

 https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/07/honey-garlic-beef-lettuce-wraps.html

Spinach and Black Bean Burrito Wrap
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/04/william-shakespeare-and-spinach-and.html

Taco Lettuce Wraps
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/10/lettuce-wraps.html

Copycat PF Chang Lettuce Wraps
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/08/copycat-recipe-pf-changs-chicken.html

Southwestern Hummus Wrap
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/07/take-bite-out-of-summer.html

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Lady Bird Johnson's quote, "Where flowers bloom, so does hope," beautifully captures the profound connection between nature and human optimism. When flowers gracefully unfold and scatter their vibrant colors across the landscape, they offer more than just visual delight.

These chicken lettuce wraps were "off the charts" in terms of taste and texture. With chicken as a protein, fresh veggies, and a flavorful Asian-inspired sauce all wrapped in a lettuce leaf, it was definitely one delicious meal. Just ask my husband and how he liked the meal, as he had not one, not two, but three helpings!!  I intended to write the meal served four, but after watching him devour it, I'm not sure.😋  

The recipe was adapted from twopeasandtheirpod  and originally, the recipe was to be served in a large romaine leaf and rolled, but with so many ingredients, it worked better to skip the rolling part, and I laid the lettuce leaf flat. If you use smaller portions, the recipe works well as an appetizer. 

Variations

• Instead of using ground chicken, you can use ground turkey or pork. If you want to make vegetarian lettuce wraps, use tofu.
• Use your favorite veggies! Mushrooms and bell peppers are great to add to the mixture. Fresh cucumbers also add a refreshing touch.
• The cashews (or peanuts) add a fantastic crunch, but if you are allergic to nuts, you can omit them.
• You can garnish the wraps with fried rice noodles or sticks.
• Serve plain or serve your favorite sauces on the side. A few good options are sriracha mayo, chili garlic sauce, or peanut sauce. 
• If you don’t want to make a lettuce wrap, you can put the filling on top of a bed of greens, in a tortilla, or make a rice or noodle bowl.

Ingredients: 
For the sauce:

• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce 
• 2 tablespoons lite soy sauce or tamari
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce 
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch 

For the chicken:

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or avocado oil
• 1 lb. ground chicken, can use ground turkey, pork, or chicken breasts cut into large chunks  
• 8 oz can water chestnuts, drained and diced

For the lettuce wraps:

• Romaine leaves, or butter lettuce, separated
• 4 scallions, sliced
• 2 cups coleslaw mix (produce section)   
• 1/2 cup chopped cashews, or peanuts
• 1 cup pea pods
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

Directions: 

• In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin, soy sauce, lime juice, chili garlic sauce, ginger, brown sugar, cornstarch, and garlic. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken or chicken pieces and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add to the cooked chicken water chestnuts, tomatoes, pea pods, and sauce. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thickened.
• To assemble the lettuce wraps, spoon the coleslaw mixture into the center of the lettuce leaves. Top with cooked chicken mixture and sauce. Top with chopped nuts. Serve immediately. 
  
  
  

It's A Wrap for the Reindeer Bar

Reindeer Bar Opened Through the Weekend Returning December 2022

Cook's Notes: It's A Wrap, a popular venue to add to your holiday entertaining. Wraps with assorted fillings are set up for guests to make their own sandwiches or you can prepare the wraps ahead of time. Just wrap with plastic wrap, refrigerate and cut into small bites right before serving. For a healthier twist wraps can be prepared with butter lettuce leaves.

A link to the following wraps pictured below  https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2020/07/avocado-caprese-chicken-wraps.html

Avocado Chicken Caprese Wraps 

PF Chang Copycat Lettuce Wraps 

Beef Honey Garlic Lettuce Wraps 

Southwestern Wrap

Black Beans and Rice 

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Last Minute Kid-Friendly Foods

Use your imagination and let the photos inspire your creativity

Snowman Pizza

Send a personalized note to a family member, friend, or neighbor thanking them for something special. 

Copycat Recipe PF Changs Chicken Lettuce Wraps

LETTUCE INTRODUCE YOU TO A  COPYCAT RECIPE
Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Living Butter Lettuce

Cook's notes: If anyone has ever been to P.F. Chang’s, you know that Chicken Lettuce Wraps are one of their signature meals. So when I found a copycat recipe to make my own version at home it was too good to pass up plus it's a fraction of the price from the restaurant and no doubt healthier.
It was a first for me buying what was advertised living butter lettuce. The living part was a bit scary at first read. Usually the restaurant serves chicken filling in iceberg lettuce but I liked the texture of this lettuce better and it was easier to roll taco style.  
I consulted with my son who was the chief taste tester on the hotness level. I started out with one teaspoon and worked my way up to almost 2 teaspoons.
Not only did the recipe taste quite close to PF Changs but it was put together using one pan and completed in under 30 minutes!  Recipe serves 4 and came from damndelicious.net

Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients:

• 1 TB. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground chicken 
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup sweet onions, diced
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 TB. soy sauce
• 1 TB. rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 TB.grated fresh ginger
• 1-2 tsp. Sriracha
• 1 (8 0z. can) diced water chestnuts, drained
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 head butter lettuce
• 1/3 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

• In a large fry pan heat oil over medium heat.  Add ground chicken, sweet onions and garlic. Cook until browned 5-8 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Wipe pan clean of excess fat with paper towels, moving chicken from side to side in the pan until it is cleaned.
• Stir in hoisin sauce, soy sauce, wine vinegar, ginger, Sriracha and water chestnuts. Cook on medium low for 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
• To serve place 1/2 cup cup chicken filling on one butter leaf lettuce, top with green onions and chopped peanuts. 

Bon Appetit!

Reindeer Bar It's A Wrap

Reindeer Bar- It's A Wrap

If going for a theme for your Reindeer Bar check out Party City store for items like one pictured above-Director's Clapboard

Cook's Notes: It's A Wrap a popular venue to add to your holiday entertaining-wraps with assorted fillings set up for guests to make their own sandwiches or you can prepare the wraps ahead of  time. Just wrap with plastic wrap, refrigerate and cut into small bites right before serving. For a healthier twist wraps can be prepared with butter lettuce leaves. 

Vietnamese Pork lettuce Wraps
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/07/honey-garlic-beef-lettuce-wraps.html

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/10/lettuce-wraps.html

Some other favorite wraps previously posted on Ever Ready include:

Spinach and Black Bean Wrap (Burrito) 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/04/william-shakespeare-and-spinach-and.html

Greek Grilled Chicken Hummus Wrap 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2017/01/chickpeas.html

Reuben or Roast Beef Pinwheels
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-wee-bit-of-green.html

"Christmas Sparrow"
by Billy Collins

The first thing I heard this morning
was a rapid flapping sound, soft, insistent—

wings against glass as it turned out
downstairs when I saw the small bird
rioting in the frame of a high window,
trying to hurl itself through
the enigma of glass into the spacious light.

Then a noise in the throat of the cat
who was hunkered on the rug
told me how the bird had gotten inside,
carried in the cold night
through the flap of a basement door,
and later released from the soft grip of teeth.

On a chair, I trapped its pulsations
in a shirt and got it to the door,
so weightless it seemed
to have vanished into the nest of cloth.

But outside, when I uncupped my hands,
it burst into its element,
dipping over the dormant garden
in a spasm of wingbeats
then disappeared over a row of tall hemlocks.

For the rest of the day,
I could feel its wild thrumming
against my palms as I wondered about
the hours it must have spent
pent in the shadows of that room,
hidden in the spiky branches
of our decorated tree, breathing there
among the metallic angels, ceramic apples, stars of yarn,
its eyes open, like mine as I lie in bed tonight
picturing this rare, lucky sparrow
tucked into a holly bush now,
a light snow tumbling through the windless dark.

"Christmas Sparrow" by Billy Collins, from Aimless Love. © Random House 2013.