Description
These Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick and flavorful meal, combining savory ground beef in a sweet and spicy sauce served with fluffy white rice wrapped in crisp butter lettuce leaves. Perfect for a fresh, light dinner ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Rice
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
Sauce
- 1/4 cup gluten free reduced-sodium Tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten free)
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar (or white sugar or honey)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (plus more for garnish)
Beef Mixture
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 green onions (chopped, white and light green parts separated from dark green parts)
- White pepper, to taste
- 2 cloves garlic (pressed or minced)
To Serve
- 1 head butter or Boston Bibb lettuce (leaves separated)
Instructions
- Cook rice: Add rice and 1 1/2 cups water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 10 minutes, ensuring the water is just barely simmering. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and set aside.
- Whisk sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce, coconut sugar, chili garlic sauce, ground ginger, and toasted sesame seeds until combined. Set aside.
- Cook beef: Heat sesame oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and the white and light green parts of the chopped green onions. Season with white pepper and cook until the beef is fully browned. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked beef mixture and sauté for an additional 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Assemble wraps: Scoop a portion of cooked rice into each lettuce leaf. Top with the Korean beef mixture, sprinkle with the dark green parts of the green onions and extra toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use gluten free Tamari to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Adjust the amount of chili garlic sauce based on your preferred spice level.
- Butter or Boston Bibb lettuce works best for wraps due to its crisp texture and flexibility.
- Coconut sugar can be substituted with white sugar or honey depending on availability and sweetness preference.
- For a lower sodium option, use reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
