Coastal Mains
Asian Chicken Bibb Lettuce Wraps
The Strategy:
Marinating diced chicken in a sweet and spicy blend of hoisin, soy sauce, and ginger infuses it with rich, savory flavor. Sautéing the chicken quickly with celery, green onions, and peanuts adds a wonderful crunch that contrasts beautifully with tender lettuce leaves. Serve the warm chicken alongside crisp Bibb lettuce cups, allowing everyone to roll their own wraps at the table.
Ingredients
- ½ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha (hot chili sauce)
- 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and grated, about 1 tablespoon
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and grated, about 1 tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 medium celery ribs, sliced, about 1 cup
- 4 to 5 green onions, thinly sliced, about ½ cup
- 2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped
- Outer leaves from 2 large heads Bibb Lettuce, reserve smaller leaves for tomorrow's salad
Instructions
- Whisk together ½ cup hoisin sauce, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, Sriracha sauce and 1 tablespoon ginger in a bowl.
- Chop the chicken into ¼-inch cubes and place into the bowl. Marinate the chicken in the sauce for at least 20 minutes or covered and refrigerated for several hours.
- Whisk together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, honey, 1 tablespoon ginger, sesame seeds, and 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a bowl.
- Set this dipping sauce on the counter while you move onto the chicken.
- Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken and the marinade.
- Stir in the celery.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the green onions and peanuts.
- Toss to combine. Tear the outer leaves from the heads of lettuce and stack them up on a platter.
- Serve the chicken in a bowl.
- Place a spoonful of chicken into the center of a lettuce leaf.
- Roll the lettuce around the filling like you would a burrito.
- Serve dipping sauce on the side. Encourage everyone to eat with their fingers and laugh out loud at all the dribbles.
Cook’s Tip
There are so many FUN versions of this dish that you can try out on your friends and family. Those lettuce leaves can wrap around taco spiced ground beef with diced cubes of avocado and tomato added in. You can also use barbecue-sauced pulled pork with some shredded carrots and cabbage as a filling. Why not try chili-seasoned shredded chicken with yellow rice and black beans? Then there is chopped, cooked shrimp flavored with a little Old Bay seasoning served with a little hot pepper sauce on the side. Oh, I could go on and on and on!! And, I do because it’s all about the sloppy giggles in this dish!
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The Heart of the Table
These lettuce wraps bring a fun, hands-on energy to the table, turning dinner into an interactive, messy, and joyful event. The combination of warm, savory chicken and crisp, cool lettuce cups sparks plenty of laughter and casual sharing, making it a favorite for relaxed gatherings.
- unbleached, pre-cut parchment paper sheets for clean releases
- a pre-seasoned double-burner cast-iron grill pan with high ridges
- a heavy-gauge, polished stainless steel ladle with an ergonomic handle
- a hand-turned, wide-rimmed salad bowl crafted from solid cherrywood
- a set of matte-finished ceramic salad plates chilled beforehand
- a set of heavy-gauge, satin-finished stainless steel mixing bowls
Neighborly Grace
- THE PRESENTATION: Stack the clean, cup-shaped Bibb lettuce leaves on a platter next to a decorative bowl of the warm chicken filling and a small dish of dipping sauce.
- THE POUR: A dry Chenin Blanc or a chilled white grape pressé infused with fresh tarragon and Meyer lemon.
- THE VIBE: Covered Veranda. The afternoon sun filters through lush plants as guests enjoy rolling their own fresh, crunchy wraps in the warm breeze.
