Veggie Mince Lettuce Wraps

chinese

Veggie Mince Lettuce Wraps

These lettuce wraps (called san choi bao in Chinese) can be made with any type of minced (ground) meat or soy mince (TVP). The mince soaks up all the different seasonings and can be cooked from frozen in minutes, which is a real time-saver. This dish is packed with flavour and is great for sharing. If you decide to use minced meat, there may be some extra liquid when cooking, in which case, add a little cornflour paste towards the end of cooking (cornflour mixed with water). If you want to you can use a vegetarian oyster sauce instead. Recipe adapted from Simply Speedy Chinese by Suzie Lee (Quadrille, £24) Photography by Uyen Luu.

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Ingredients

  • garlic cloves 1 tbsp (grated)
  • ginger 1 tbsp (grated)
  • onion 1 (diced)
  • celery 1 (diced)
  • carrot 1 (peeled)
  • mushrooms 1 handful (diced)
  • vegetarian mince 300 g
  • soy sauce 3 tbsp
  • oyster sauce 1 tbsp
  • Shaoxing rice wine 1 tbsp
  • sesame oil 1 tbsp
  • mixed chillies 1 (sliced)
  • spring onions 2 (sliced)
  • little gem lettuce 2 (leaves picked)

Method

Make the filling

  • Grate the garlic cloves and ginger. Dice the onion, celery, mushroom and carrot
  • Heat a dash of vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan over a high heat and fry the garlic and ginger for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add the onion, celery, carrot and mushrooms and cook for about 10 minutes until softened.
  • Add the vegetarian mince (or your meat of choice) and cook for about 2 minutes.
  • Now add soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine and sesame oil and cook for a further 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and white pepper.

Plate Up

  • Slice the fresh mixed chillies and spring onions. Separate the little gem lettuce leaves.
  • Serve garnished with chillies and spring onions, piled into the lettuce leaves.

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