I got this recipe from my mom, who got it from her sister, who got it from...I'm not sure who, but I tried it and Mike and I liked it. It is not an exact replica of PF Changs infamous Lettuce Wraps, but it is similar.
Brown chicken (the recipe calls for 2-3 chicken breasts - I used 2) in skillet. Remove and set aside and then either shred or cut into small chunks. Pour 2 T canola or olive oil into skillet and add 1 T grated or minced fresh ginger root and some rice straws, if desired. I used my kitchen shears to cut a bunch off. Rice straws have to be softened in the oil. Cook about 4-5 minutes. Then add back in the chicken you have either shredded or cut. Continue cooking while adding vegetables. I added shredded carrots, broccoli cut into small pieces, water chestnuts cut into quarters, Italian green beans cut into small pieces (slender whole beans cut up would work), red pepper, green onion (or use onion powder), baby corn cobs cut into 2 or 3 slices, and whatever else you would like. Then add 2 T rice vinegar, 4 T teriyaki sauce and 2 T either honey or agave or 1 T brown sugar. At this point turn it to low (#3 on my stovetop) heat and cover with a lid. I gave it about 10 minutes, stirring a couple of times, even though the recipe said it was done after the sauce was added. I liked it better once the sauce really marinated into the meat and veggies and then it looked more like 'real' lettuce wraps. I also ended up adding a few more drops of the rice vinegar and about 2 t. more teriyaki sauce so that it didn't look dry. I have never used rice vinegar before. Just smelling it made me think of lettuce wraps so don't substitute regular vinegar. One package of rice straws will probably last a very long time! I think I will add to stir fry, etc. just because I have them. I actually found a frozen stir fry veggie mix that had the carrots, broccoli (I just cut it into smaller pieces), Italian beans, red pepper, and baby corn cobs. I just opened a can of water chestnuts and added about half of the can (freeze the rest) and added onion. Shortcutting on the veggies made it really fast.Anyway the receipe was very easy and didn't take long to prepare or cook. I know this will be on our regular rotation. Hope you enjoy!
Brown chicken (the recipe calls for 2-3 chicken breasts - I used 2) in skillet. Remove and set aside and then either shred or cut into small chunks. Pour 2 T canola or olive oil into skillet and add 1 T grated or minced fresh ginger root and some rice straws, if desired. I used my kitchen shears to cut a bunch off. Rice straws have to be softened in the oil. Cook about 4-5 minutes. Then add back in the chicken you have either shredded or cut. Continue cooking while adding vegetables. I added shredded carrots, broccoli cut into small pieces, water chestnuts cut into quarters, Italian green beans cut into small pieces (slender whole beans cut up would work), red pepper, green onion (or use onion powder), baby corn cobs cut into 2 or 3 slices, and whatever else you would like. Then add 2 T rice vinegar, 4 T teriyaki sauce and 2 T either honey or agave or 1 T brown sugar. At this point turn it to low (#3 on my stovetop) heat and cover with a lid. I gave it about 10 minutes, stirring a couple of times, even though the recipe said it was done after the sauce was added. I liked it better once the sauce really marinated into the meat and veggies and then it looked more like 'real' lettuce wraps. I also ended up adding a few more drops of the rice vinegar and about 2 t. more teriyaki sauce so that it didn't look dry. I have never used rice vinegar before. Just smelling it made me think of lettuce wraps so don't substitute regular vinegar. One package of rice straws will probably last a very long time! I think I will add to stir fry, etc. just because I have them. I actually found a frozen stir fry veggie mix that had the carrots, broccoli (I just cut it into smaller pieces), Italian beans, red pepper, and baby corn cobs. I just opened a can of water chestnuts and added about half of the can (freeze the rest) and added onion. Shortcutting on the veggies made it really fast.Anyway the receipe was very easy and didn't take long to prepare or cook. I know this will be on our regular rotation. Hope you enjoy!
Comments
You are a brave cook! Another recipe of yours had unfamiliar ingredients. I'd probably wander the store forever just looking for rice straws. What are they and where would I find them? And water chestnuts come in a can? I've never bought those either.
Didn't we have yummy lettuce wraps at Pei Wei? I will put this on my 'try with Trev' list!! Thanks!
I found the rice straws in the oriental cooking section...like near the soy sauce. They basically look like dry white hair, but they cook up soft like a lo mein noodle. The are sometimes called rice sticks, also, I believe. And I think they could be left out, if you didn't have the $4 to spend on the bag (but don't leave out the rice vinegar)
Yes, Pei Wei has yummy lettuce wraps as well. I've heard Joy Lucks are good also.
Water chestnuts come in a small can, they were in the same area as the rice straws, but the bag of mixed frozen stir fry veggies that I used already had water chestnuts in it so I didn't use the canned ones.