Spring season is upon us, which means it’s time to have fun with greens and veggies! Head to your local market and you’ll be greeted by fresh produce made tastier by the changing season. When you’re in a rut for recipes, my Healthy Asian Wrap with Beef and Hoisin Sauce is a fun and delicious recipe to kickstart your spring food-ventures!
Read until the very end for the complete recipe video and we can cook this dish together!
Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap with Beef and Hoisin Sauce Recipe
Asian Beef Lettuce Wrap Main Ingredients
1. Soy sauce: Any brand of soy sauce is fine but Kikkoman Soy Sauce has always been my go-to for recipes that need a kick of umami. It’s an all-purpose sauce that’s naturally brewed in Japan. Consider this as a pantry staple because you can use it for marinades, as a dipping sauce, stir-fry sauce, and more!
2. Hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory sauce that’s primarily made from fermented soybeans, red chili peppers, and garlic. Its thick and caramel-like consistency makes it a great glaze and dipping sauce for char siu and rice noodles. Although it doesn’t have seafood in its ingredient list, hoisin actually means seafood sauce in Chinese.
For this recipe, the rich yet contrasting flavors add depth to the ground beef, making you grab seconds and thirds without you knowing it!
Hoisin sauce has a distinct taste profile that will be challenging to replicate. The best hoisin alternative I can recommend is black bean sauce or your trusty barbeque sauce. The sweetness may be toned down with these substitutes but it may add a welcome hint of smokiness to your lettuce wrap. According to The Kitchen Community, teriyaki sauce or oyster sauce come as a close match with a few adjustments.
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3. Lettuce: While any kind of lettuce is okay for this recipe, I recommend going for Romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce for a delightful crunch, refreshing taste, and vibrant look. It’s also firm enough to hold all your fillings.
On the very rare chance that you can’t find lettuce in your markets, you can use cabbages or collard greens. Just make sure to boil them for extra flexibility when making your wrap. If you want to switch things up, nori sheets can also make a good wrap.
4. Mushrooms: I used button mushrooms for this recipe because it’s one of the most accessible mushrooms in the market and the mild flavors don’t get in the way of the seasoned ground beef. Just slice ‘em up in bite-sized pieces so you won’t have a difficult time fitting all your ingredients in the lettuce.
If you want a stronger tasting mushroom, use shiitake for a richer, buttery, meat-like taste and texture. Oyster, portobello, or porcini mushrooms also work fine. Feel free to play around!
5. Ground beef: Like I mentioned in my blog post, these lettuce wraps are like the healthier cousin of beef tacos, because instead of using taco shells, you’re using crispy lettuce. You can also use chicken or tofu as your choice of protein.
All the recipes I develop use easy-to-find Asian grocery items, so you won’t have a hard time getting them! You can shop for the main ingredients in Karman Foods!
How To Cook Healthy Asian Wrap with Beef and Hoisin Sauce
1. In a hot pan, saute the minced garlic over olive oil until it’s fragrant. Make sure to watch the heat so as not to burn the garlic. Overcooking your garlic may add an unpleasant bitterness to your final dish. Once fragrant, add in the red onions and saute for a minute or until these are translucent.
2. Add your sliced mushrooms and saute with the aromatics until they are tender.
3. Add your ground beef or choice of protein. Mix until they’re brown and cooked.
4. Season your beef with the soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Mix until all the ingredients are fully combined.
5. Finally, you can add the shredded carrots. Mix it until it’s tender. Overcooking your carrots may make it soggy, so make sure to watch your heat to keep it tasting fresh and feeling crunchy.
6. Wash your lettuce before you plate. Once your choice of leafy veggie is clean, lay it on a plate and add a tablespoon or two of your cooked beef to the lettuce, depending on your appetite. Spread the filling evenly so it’s easier to grab and enjoy. Garnish with spring onions and serve with extra hoisin dipping sauce on the side!
This delicious spring and summer-time recipe is good for 1 or 2 people, depending on your appetite for the day. Serve it for lunch, as a snack, or for party nights! It won’t take you more than 20 minutes to prepare this.
Let me know if you tried this recipe by tagging me at @karman_foods on Instagram! If you want more of easy-to-follow Asian recipes and food reviews, subscribe to our Youtube channel where we’re always cooking up great things for you. Shop curated Asian groceries only at Karman Foods!
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