This is my salute to hot lettuce wraps, to which my family loves, but to which I am not a particular fan. I like my lettuce wraps cold and refreshing or a bit offbeat, as in Thai lettuce wraps, composed of toasted coconut, peanuts, chilies, and other toppings. However, this is far less time consuming, is perfect for a weeknight meal (or a snack), and can be varied in many ways. If you happen to have baked tofu, as I did, this meal comes together in about 15 minutes. The sauce is assertive, so if you don't have any baked tofu lying about, pan fried tofu, steamed tempeh, fried tofu, or even chickpeas would work here. If you are not vegan, I imagine any light protein of choice would be good here.
Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin Filling
Ingredients
Half a block of Baked Tofu
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 large onion or 1 small onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper
3 garlic cloves, diced
1 small knob ginger, grated
2 Tbsp sake or mirin
1 tsp agave or other sweetener
3 tbsp GF Hoisin Sauce, storebought or homemade
2 tsp smooth dijon mustard, like Grey Poupon
4-5 iceberg lettuce leaves
chopped mint & cilantro (optional)
small handful salad greens (optional)
mung bean sprouts (optional)
Directions:
Prepare baked tofu or protein of choice. Dice into small bite sized morsels. Bring a small pan over medium-low heat, and add the onions, bell pepper, garlic, and ginger (grated directly into the pan). When the onions are softened, add the sake and agave and let it reduce until most of the liquid has absorbed or evaporated, about 1-2 minutes. While it is reducing, mix together the hoisin sauce and the dijon mustard in a small bowl and add to the pan. Incorporate the sauce into the vegetables and remove from heat when they are appropriately glazed.
Add the baked tofu to the mixture and let sit while preparing your lettuce leaves. Into each leaf and some salad greens, a bit of the mint and cilantro mixture, and mung bean sprouts. Top this with the hot filling. Serve immediately
Makes 4-5 wraps.
COST BREAKDOWN
Tofu $1.25 (Half of a $2 box of tofu + Soy Sauce glaze)
Onion $.20 ($.40/lb)
Red Pepper $.50 ($1 each)
Garlic $.05 ($.50 for 3 heads)
Ginger $.05 (guestimation)
Sake $.20 ($3.79 for a large bottle)
Hoisin Sauce $.05 (GF storebought clearance, guestimation)
Dijon $.10 ($3 clearance for large bottle)
Lettuce $.40 ($1 per head, 4 leaves used)
Mint $.50 ($3 for a small organic package. Ouch)
Cilantro $.03 (3 bunches for $1)
Salad Greens $.23 ($3 for a large container, guestimation)
Mung Bean Sprouts $.20 ($.79 for package, small amt used)
TOTAL=$3.76 ($2.80 bare bones), $.75-$.94 per serving
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