Name: Beef Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1.5 lb ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 0.25 cup hoisin sauce; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp sesame oil; 8 butter lettuce leaves; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 tbsp sesame seeds

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Beef Lettuce Wraps

StovetopEasyPrep 10 minCook 12 minServes 4

Savory-sweet ground beef spooned into crisp lettuce cups — fresh, crunchy and fun to eat.

Ingredients

1½ lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup hoisin sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
8 butter lettuce leaves
2 green onions, sliced
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Steps

Brown the beef with the onion until crumbly, about 6 minutes, then drain.
Add the garlic, hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar and simmer 3 minutes.
Stir in the sesame oil.
Spoon the beef into lettuce leaves, scatter with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve.

Serve with: steamed rice and extra hoisin on the side.

Use butter lettuce — the cups hold their shape better.

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Tips & mistakes

Brown the beef in a hot pan without stirring too much — constant stirring steams it instead of browning it, and you lose all the flavor.
Drain the fat before adding the sauce, or the wraps turn greasy and the lettuce wilts.
Add the garlic after the beef is browned; garlic burns in a minute on high heat and turns bitter.
Serve the filling warm and the lettuce cold — the contrast is what makes the wraps work, hot savory beef against cool crisp leaves.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use ground pork? Yes: pork is the classic choice for this style of wrap and cooks the same way. It is a little fattier than beef, so drain it well before adding the sauce.

Can I make it spicier? Add chili crisp or sriracha to the sauce; a teaspoon is enough to notice. Taste the sauce before adding more — the heat builds as it sits.

How do I keep the lettuce crisp? Wash, dry thoroughly, and keep the leaves cold until serving; wet lettuce wilts fast. A salad spinner gets the leaves dry enough that they stay crisp for hours.

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