Thai Society's lettuce wraps

Chef/Owner Kay Eksupapan
Thai Society, Encinitas

Bursting with flavor, Asian lettuce wraps are great for entertaining or family-style meals. Each person can build their own wrap and add extra veggies like carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers or radishes, based on their preference.

Ingredients

2 tsp. canola oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped water chestnuts
1/4 cup diced shiitake mushrooms
8 oz. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, ground
1 tbsp. hoisin sauce
1/2 tsp. oyster sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
Freshly ground white pepper, to taste
6 butter lettuce leaves, rinsed
2 tbsp. diced scallions

Spicy hoisin dipping sauce
4 tbsp. hoisin sauce
1/2 tsp. chili sauce (Sriracha is fine too)
1 tbsp. warm water

Directions

Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until golden, about 10 seconds. Add water chestnuts and mushrooms and sauté for a minute or two. Add chicken and stir-fry until browned, breaking up chicken as it cooks, about 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly stir in hoisin and oyster sauces. Add sugar and white pepper and stir until everything is well incorporated.

Meanwhile, prepare spicy hoisin dipping sauce by stirring ingredients together in a small bowl.

To serve, spoon about 1/4 cup chicken into each lettuce leaf. Garnish with scallions and a spoon a little dipping sauce onto each one.

Serves 6