Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

In The Groove

I admit… I was torn to see school start this year. It felt like the summer just flew by. Maybe that is something all moms say once they have kids in school, but I truly feel like summer was gone in a blink.

As sad I am to see school back in session, I am truly excited to get back into a somewhat more manageable routine. We may have more things going on during the school year, but at least we are on somewhat of a schedule.

Along with that schedule comes the challenge of finding time to sit down to dinner as a family each evening. During the summer we would eat dinner early or eat late or eat out… we ate dinner together, but it varied greatly as far as times. Now with school getting out at 4pm, and after school activities starting soon after, I am hungrily looking for delicious recipes that can fit into our ever tight schedules.

I recently found this recipe for Asian Lettuce Wraps on another food blog and now I can’t find the blog. Luckily, I did a search on All Recipes and found the same recipe. (If I commented on this recipe on your blog, please let me know and I’ll link this back to you.) I love this recipe because it gives me something besides tacos and spaghetti to use ground beef with. It is a fun, hand held dinner and it can be made in a jiffy. With recipes like this in my repertoire, I feel like I can finally get into the groove of things!

Asian Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps, from Allrecipes

  • 16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • Asian chile pepper sauce (optional)
  • 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil

  1. Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not tear them. Set aside.
  2. In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef in 1 tablespoon of 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 chile pepper sauce to the onions, and stir. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, and sesame oil, and continue cooking until the onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.
  3. 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, and enjoy!

Interested in other recipe versions of Lettuce Wraps? Check out what these food bloggers have to offer:

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Lucy says

    Kirsten, I just read your Mom’s blog and just wanted to say that I think she’s awesome for entering the blogging world! Her stories remind me so much of my Dad’s! He passed away last year but several years ago, after my oldest was born, he wrote an “autobiography” for all of us to have. I bet you’ll learn even more about your Mom through her wonderful memories!

  4. diane says

    the lettuce wraps looks really good. you are right..perfect for a work night/school night..
    thank you so much for your comment on my blog regarding the corn story..i knew the recipe would raise some eyebrows..but, trust me..the cake is really good…try it..and let me know what you think..
    best!

    dianes last blog post..what do you do with fresh corn?

  7. Deborah says

    Something weird is going on – I haven’t got your last 3 posts on my Google reader. Luckily I’m finding you on Food Gawker. I see the photo, can’t help but clicking over. I love lettuce wraps, and this one looks so good!

    Deborahs last blog post..Frittata with Potato and Bacon

  8. The Cat's Pajamas says

    Ohh, that looks good. I already miss summer days. My alarm goes off every morning at 6:00. For the past few months the alarm would go off and I’d look toward light coming through our window… now it’s still dark out at 6:00. Oh, summer, why’d you have to go so fast?

    The Cat’s Pajamass last blog post..Waiting Room

  15. Carmen says

    Yum, this recipe looks simple and healthy! I’ll definitely try these out soon. I made lettuce wraps recently with leftover pulled pork topped with coleslaw, and now am a huge fan of all things wrapped in lettuce. 🙂 And, BTW, on your last post – meant to comment, but for some reason didn’t have a chance – I am defintiely in agreement with you on not handing down underwear. 🙂

    Carmens last blog post..Tuesdays with Dorie – Granola Grabbers

  17. Robin says

    School’s back in session already!? Mine starts on Sept 3 – it’s funny, now that I work in a school, the end of summer rolls around and I feel like a whiny kid again… I don’t want summer to end! 😀

    Robins last blog post..The star.

  18. rachel says

    I can’t believe it’s back-to-school time already! You’re right- summer just flew by. These wraps look yummy, I make a vegetarian version with tofu that goes down pretty well.

    rachels last blog post..Taste Travel

Trackbacks

  9. […] dish was adapted by This Week For Dinner from a recipe originally posted by my friend and yours, Kristen of Dine and Dish. This version uses chicken rather than ground beef, and there were a couple other changes as well. […]

  10. […] Beef Lettuce wraps with rice – to be based of this recipe […]