Crispy Pork Lettuce Wraps With Spicy Cucumbers Recipes

SPICY PORK LOIN AND LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• Cook the pork: Season the pork all over with the salt, then sift the paprika through a fine mesh sieve over the pork. Heat a cast iron skillet large enough to hold the pork. Add the oil and when it begins to smoke lightly, use a pair of metal tongs to place the pork into the hot oil. Cook over high heat, turning the pork often, browning on all sides, until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F in the thickest part of the tenderloin, about 15 minutes total (if you like a little more "done", cook a few minutes longer on each side). Remove the pork and allow it to "rest" on a flat surface. If you like a little more "done", cook a few minutes longer on each side.
• Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar, soy sauce, honey, fish sauce, and ginger. Add the scallions. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
• Assemble the wraps: On a large serving platter, arrange "cups" of lettuce leaves, 2 to 3 layers of lettuce per cup. Form the cups with one leaf inside another with the lettuce spines stacked on top of the other.
• Slice the pork into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Top each lettuce cup with 3 or 4 slices of pork. Season the pork with a little more salt, then top with the chiles. Drizzle the meat with some of the sauce. Top with the cilantro leaves. Top with more sauce if you like.

SPICY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• For the scallion and carrot relish: Toss the soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, carrots, scallions and lime juice in a medium bowl. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• For the pork: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil, and once hot, the pork. Cook the pork, breaking it up with the back of your spoon until it browns and is no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes, salt, garlic, ginger and shallots. Cook until they are aromatic and incorporated, another minute. Add the hoisin and stir to combine, then add the soy sauce. Cook until the pork is sticky and glazed, about 3 minutes. Transfer the pork to a serving bowl.
• Serve the pork with the lettuce leaves, some scallion and carrot relish, cilantro leaves, mint leaves, peanuts and sriracha, letting everyone build their own wraps with all the fixings.