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.
Book: Canvas & Cuisine
Page: 133
Category: POULTRY
serves a crowd for an appy or 4 for dinner
Ingredients
Chicken
- 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
Dipping Sauce
- 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
Wraps
Instructions
Chicken Prep & Marinade
- 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.
Dipping Sauce
- 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.
Cooking & Assembly
- 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.
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.
The Art of the Host
- 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.