Lettuce Wraps

I love the contrast of the cool-crunchy lettuce leaves, chewy-hot-spicy meat & crunchy water chestnuts. Yummy!

• 16 Boston Bibb or Butter Lettuce leaves
• 1 lb. finely chopped chicken (like to use a combination of white and dark meat and chop it finely in my food processor)
• 1 T. cooking oil
• 1 large, sweet onion- medium dice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 T. Soy Sauce
• 1/4 C. Hoisin Sauce
• 2 t. minced, pickled ginger
• 1 T. rice wine vinegar
• 1 T. Asian Chile Sauce
• 1 8 oz. can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced on the bias
• 2 t. Toasted Sesame Oil
• (We added sliced carrots & toasted, chopped nuts like almonds, peanuts or cashews just for fun.)
  

Rinse whole leaves and pat dry, being careful not to tear them. Set aside.
In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the chicken in 1 T. oil, stirring often and reducing the heat to medium, if necessary. Drain, and set aside to cool. Cook the onion in the same pan, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar and chili sauce to the onions and stir. Stir in the chopped water chestnuts, green onions and sesame oil and continue cooking until the green onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.
Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a large serving platter and pile meat mixture in the center. To serve, allow each person to spoon a portion of the meat into a lettuce leaf. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito.
Serves 4-6 people as an entree or 8-10 as an appetizer.
from Kate Homer's Recipe Collection

Thai Chicken Salad with Peanuts and Lime

* 2 cooked chicken breast halves
* 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
* 1 cup diced cucumber
* 1 cup diced tomato
* 1/2 cup chopped scallions
* 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
* 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
* 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
* 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 2 teaspoons sesame oil
* 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

Directions

Using a fork, pull chicken meat from bone in shreds.

Place lettuce in a large bowl (or divide onto individual dishes). Top lettuce with chicken, cucumber, tomato, and scallions.

In a small bowl, whisk together broth, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and sesame oil. Pour mixture over salad. Top with peanuts just before serving. Serves 4
Copyright, 2006, Robin Miller, All rights reserved.