Asian Lettuce Cups with Turkey and Mushrooms (recipe)

Asian Lettuce Cups with Turkey and Mushrooms

The whole family can enjoy eating these lettuce cups as they can be tailored to individual tastes. Enjoy as a meal or assemble lettuce cups using small leaves and serve on a platter for a quick appetizer.

Prep time:
10 Minutes
Serves:
4
Cook time:
15 Minutes

Recipe by Paula Bowman
Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Ingredients

1/4 Cup	plus 2 tbsp soy sauce
1 Teaspoon	lime zest
1 Tablespoon	lime juice
1 1/4 Teaspoon	minced ginger
1 Teaspoon	brown sugar
2 Tablespoon	rice vinegar
1 Teaspoon	cornstarch mixed with 1/4-cup water
2 Tablespoon	olive oil
4 Ounce	crimini mushrooms, roughly chopped, about 4 or 5 medium
1 Pound	ground turkey
1 Teaspoon	minced garlic
Pinch	red pepper flakes
16	leaves of boston* lettuce, approx. 2 heads, separated
2	medium carrots, shredded*
1/2 Cup	crunchy chow mein noodles*
1/4 Cup	shelled peanuts, roughly chopped

Preparation

To make dipping sauce, combine 1/4-cup soy sauce, lime zest and juice, 1/4-teaspoon minced ginger and brown sugar and stir, set aside. In another bowl, combine remaining 2-tablespoons soy sauce, rice vinegar and cornstarch mixture and set aside.
Heat oil in a nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add turkey, garlic, remaining 1-teaspoon ginger and red pepper flakes. Continue to cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a wooden spoon until meat is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add reserved cornstarch mixture and cook until sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Meanwhile, arrange lettuce leaves, carrots, fried noodles and peanuts on a platter or separately in bowls. To eat, spoon turkey mixture into lettuce cup and garnish with carrots, fried noodles and peanuts. Serve reserved lime sauce for dipping or pour over filling in lettuce cups.

Hints & Tips

*Boston lettuce, also known as Bibb or Butter lettuce is a delicate sweet flavoured lettuce. It is readily available in the produce aisle of grocery stores. Iceberg lettuce can be substituted.

*Crunchy chow mein noodles add a bit of crunch to this dish. Look for them in the international food section in larger grocery stores.

*Shred carrots on a mandolin slicer to get long thin strips. Look for similar prepackaged carrots in the produce aisle of larger grocery stores. Carrots can also be grated on the large holes of a box grater or using an attachment in a food processor.

Make ahead: Meat mixture can be prepared in advance and stored tightly sealed in the refrigerator. Reheat in a microwave or on the stove in a covered skillet with a bit of water until heated through.

Add your own comment (2)

cj

02 Sep, 2010

Just made this tonite and it was a hit! Had to make some substitutions but it still tasted great and was super fast and easy. Substituted crimini mushrooms for regular mushrooms and some rehydrated shiitake mushrooms. Used ichiban for the noodles and sesame seeds for the topping (our son has a peanut allergy)- awesome!