Lettuce Cups With Tofu And Beef Recipes

THAI BASIL TOFU LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• Mix together the bell peppers and rice wine vinegar and marinate for 1 hour and up to a day in the refrigerator.
• In a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat, add the vegetable and sesame oils. Add the shallots, garlic and ginger and saute for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Add the tofu by crumbling into small pieces and saute for 15 minutes more.
• In the meantime, whisk together the hot sauce, salt, fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and hoisin and add to the tofu. Cook until the sauce thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the chopped Thai basil. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
• To serve, spoon the tofu mixture onto a piece of lettuce and top with the marinated peppers, cashews, scallions, the chiffonade Thai basil and a couple dots of plum sauce. For more heat, add a few drops of hot sauce.

SPICY BEEF IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl,combine soy sauce,sherry,cornstarch, sugar and salt; stir well and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, use a spoon to break up the ground beef; gently mix in soy-sauce mixture. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes.
• Heat wok or large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
• Add oil and swirl to coat pan; add ginger and garlic.
• Cook for about 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant but not browned.
• Crumble in beef, and use spatula or large slotted spoon to break it up and spread meat over pan to help it cook evenly.
• Cook until it changes color on one side, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Turn meat and cook another minute undisturbed.
• Toss well, using a spatula to break up any large chunks.
• When meat is cooked, add pepper flakes and scallions, then toss well.
• Add sesame oil and remove from heat, tossing until sesame oil is well blended.
• Transfer meat to serving plate; serve hot,warm or at room temperature.
• Arrange lettuce cups on serving platter; fill each with a spoonful of beef or provide lettuce cups and plate of beef and let guests assemble lettuce packets themselves.