Cactus Club Lettuce Wraps Recipes

SZECHUAN CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS WITH SPICY MAYO (CACTUS CLUB COPYCAT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a cooking pan with foil and spray or brush with cooking oil.
• In a medium skillet, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring continuously until the breadcrumbs start to brown. Be careful not to burn them, you only want them to slightly turn a golden colour. Remove from heat and mix in soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss to combine and set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg and mayonnaise together. Pour mixture into a shallow dish and set aside. Place flour into another shallow dish and set aside.
• Fully coat each chicken strip with flour, then with egg, and lastly with the panko breadcrumb mixture.
• Place the coated chicken strips onto your cooking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown and no longer pink inside.
• Place chicken strips into a large bowl and add chow mein noodles, green onions, cilantro, peanuts, and sweet chili sauce. Toss to coat.
• Transfer chicken mixture into serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Add lime wedges.
• In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, hot sauce, and lime juice together.
• Serve spicy mayo on the side or drizzle on top of chicken mixture.

KOREAN BARBECUE LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, garlic, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil until the sugar dissolves. Place the steak in a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade on top. Seal and massage the marinade into the meat. Let stand at room temperature while you heat the grill or refrigerate for up to 4 hours. 2. Heat an outdoor grill to medium-high or heat a cast-iron grill pan on the stovetop. 3. When the grill is ready, remove the steak from the bag and wipe off any excess marinade. Pour the marinade into a small saucepan. Grill the steak for 12 minutes, turning once halfway through, for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, bring the marinade to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the gochujang and remaining ½ teaspoon sesame oil until well-combined. 5. Cut the steak across the grain into thin slices. Divide the rice and steak among the lettuce leaves. Drizzle with the sauce and top with the scallions.

TOFU LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Throw in the tofu and break it up into very small pieces. Cook until much of the liquid cooks off and the tofu starts to turn golden, for several minutes.
• Add the chili powder and some salt and pepper, then stir. Throw in the green onions and corn and cook for a few minutes (the corn can remain crunchy). Add the soy sauce and cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar.
• Pile the mixture into individual romaine lettuce leaves, then add slices of avocado. Fold up and chow down!

ALMOST-FAMOUS CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken: Whisk the egg white, cornstarch and rice wine in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Make the stir-fry sauce: Whisk 1/3 cup water, the oyster, hoisin and soy sauces, the rice wine and sesame oil in a bowl, then whisk in the cornstarch until dissolved.
• Fry the noodles: Pull the noodles apart into sections. Heat 3/4 inch peanut oil in a medium saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer registers 380 degrees F. Working in batches, press the noodles into the oil with a spatula until they puff, 5 to 10 seconds. Drain on paper towels.
• Make the stir-fry: Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil to the skillet; when almost smoking, stir in the garlic, ginger, jalapeno and minced scallions, then add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the sugar and stir-fry 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, water chestnuts and scallion pieces and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add the stir-fry sauce and chicken and cook 1 minute. Make a bed of noodles on a platter and top with the chicken mixture. Serve the noodles and stir-fry with lettuce leaves and soy sauce for dipping. Photograph by Andrew Mccaul

ASIAN LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not tear them. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef and cooking oil in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease; transfer beef to a bowl. Cook and stir onion in the same skillet used for beef until slightly tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir hoisin sauce, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and chile pepper sauce into onions. Add water chestnuts, green onions, sesame oil, and cooked beef; cook and stir until the onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.
• Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a large serving platter and pile meat mixture in the center.