Description
These Asian-Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a delicious and easy-to-make meal perfect for sharing. Ground beef is sautéed with garlic, ginger, and fresh vegetables, then simmered in a tangy, slightly sweet ginger garlic sauce. Served in crisp Boston Bibb lettuce leaves, these wraps offer a fresh, flavorful, and low-carb dining experience that can be complemented with steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice.
Ingredients
Lettuce Wrap Sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar
- ¼ cup coconut aminos, tamari, or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
Ground Beef Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 4 whole green onions, sliced into 1-inch pieces
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish
- Boston Bibb lettuce leaves, for wrapping
- Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a measuring cup, combine maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes if using. Whisk until all ingredients are blended. Then add arrowroot powder and whisk thoroughly until smooth.
- Cook the beef: Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it up while cooking until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger into the skillet. Cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Add vegetables: Mix in the diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
- Simmer with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables. Stir well, then let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly. Taste and season with kosher salt and ground pepper as desired.
- Finish with green onions: Stir in the sliced green onions just before removing the skillet from the heat.
- Serve: Spoon the beef mixture into individual Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Optionally, serve alongside or topped with steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice. Garnish with sesame seeds. Makes about 8 wraps without rice or 12 with rice.
Notes
- You can customize the level of heat by adjusting the red pepper flakes or omitting them altogether.
- Boston Bibb or other soft lettuce varieties work best for wraps owing to their pliability.
- Arrowroot powder or cornstarch helps thicken the sauce, ensuring it clings nicely to the beef mixture.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of regular soy sauce.
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner alternative if preferred.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute beef with firm tofu or plant-based crumbles and adjust cooking times accordingly.
