Description
These Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick and delicious meal featuring savory ground beef cooked with fresh vegetables and a flavorful homemade sauce. Perfectly served in crisp Boston Bibb lettuce leaves, they make for a light yet satisfying appetizer or main dish. Ready in just 25 minutes, these wraps combine sweet, tangy, and spicy notes to delight your taste buds.
Ingredients
Sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or brown sugar, or coconut sugar)
- ¼ cup coconut aminos (or tamari, or soy sauce)
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- ¼ – ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Beef Filling
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 medium red bell pepper (finely diced)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 4 whole green onions (sliced into 1” pieces)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Ground pepper (to taste)
To Serve
- Boston Bibb lettuce leaves
- Sesame seeds (to taste, for garnish)
- Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice (optional)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a measuring cup, combine the maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes if using. Whisk until fully blended. Then add the arrowroot powder and whisk again until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Cook the beef: Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and stir frequently with a wooden spoon to break apart the meat. Cook until the beef is fully browned with no pink remaining, about 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Stir in minced garlic and freshly grated ginger. Cook continuously for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is very fragrant but before the garlic browns.
- Cook vegetables: Add the finely diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots to the skillet. Sauté with the beef until the vegetables are tender but still slightly crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add and thicken sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables. Stir thoroughly to coat everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Taste and season with kosher salt and ground pepper as needed.
- Finish with green onions: Stir in the sliced green onions, mixing well to incorporate their fresh flavor into the filling.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon the warm beef mixture into individual Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Garnish each wrap with sesame seeds. Optionally serve with steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice. This recipe yields about 8 wraps without rice or 12 wraps when served with rice.
Notes
- Substitute maple syrup with brown sugar or coconut sugar for the sauce depending on your preference.
- Coconut aminos can be replaced with tamari or soy sauce if desired, but note soy sauce is saltier.
- Arrowroot powder can be swapped with cornstarch for thickening the sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on your heat tolerance or omit for a milder dish.
- Boston Bibb lettuce is preferred for its tender, flexible leaves, but butter lettuce or romaine can work as alternatives.
- Add steamed white rice or cauliflower rice to bulk up the meal and serve as a more filling option.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with crumbled tofu or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
