Ginger Chicken Lettuce Cups
Time: 20-30 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Inspired by: Yummy flavors of ginger-infused meals in so many Asian-style restaurants. I read about ten “ginger-chicken” recipes one day and then used the one I liked the most (by blogger Joey Randall – The Village Voice) because it seemed to be the healthiest. I may have modified it slightly.
Ingredients:
- 12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons grated ginger (fresh)
- 1-3 gloves crushed garlic (fresh)
- 3 tablespoons organic soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 – 2 cups thinly sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced red pepper
- 1 cup sliced yellow pepper
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 cup broccoli in very small pieces
- 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
- 1 (8 oz) can diced water chestnuts, rinsed and drained
- 3/4 cup sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
- Butterhead lettuce (like Boston or Bibb) for 4- 6 servings
Recipe:
- Cut chicken into thin strips.
- Combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. Pour over chicken to marinate while prepping vegetables.
- Heat wok or large skillet. Pour in olive oil and heat. Remove chicken from marinade and carefully add to pan. Cook until tender – about 5 minutes.
- Pour marinade over chicken. Add the veggies. Cook 3 minutes or until sauce slightly thickens, stirring often.
- Remove from heat. Add almonds.
- Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 cup chicken mixture into lettuce leaf and roll up.
Wine Suggestions: An aromatic white that is slightly off-dry will work well with the ginger and spice of this dish. We drank a dry, 2006 Nikolaihof Grüner Veltliner and while it’s one of my favorite Grüners with beautiful aeromatics, I think a fruiter or slightly-off dry wine would have been a better pairing. Here are a few suggestions starting with off-dry and ending with dry.
- Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc (California)
- Chateau Ste Michelle Eroica Riesling (Washington)
- Slightly off-dry Riesling (Germany or Austria)
- Torrontes (Argentina)
- Sauvignon Blanc (California or New Zealand)
- Grüner Veltliner (Austria)