Lettuce Wraps

[Liane]

The newest appetizer rage seems to be lettuce wraps. We get them at P.F. Chang's and they are to die for. Does anyone have a similiar recipe? I don't recall seeing anything in Cooking Light.

[Carrie W]

Have you tried the ginger peanut chicken wraps from (I think) the June CL? I'd be willing to bet that the filling would work well if wrapped in lettuce instead of tortillas. And they are quite tasty, too.

[Susan]

I love the PF Chang ones too! A friend of mine made some at home trying to duplicate their recipe and they were very close, only the sauce was missing. She is out of town now, but I will try to see if she remembers how she did it when she returns.

~~Susan~~

[chefandi]

We recently got a new P.F. Changs in my area and I loved the lettuce wraps and was wondering if anyone had a recipe of any kind for this type of appetizer.

[Jeanne G]

Liane,

Hello! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif I have to admit that this post caught my eye because I've been recently introduced to Vietnamese food. And my boyfriend and I went for dinner a few weeks ago and had them suggest an appetizer. It was something wrapped in romaine leaves, but can't remember the exact info on it. I know it was "egg-based" kind of like a thin omlette with sprouts, veggies & seafood. AWESOME, but I doubt very healthy.

Is this what you're looking for??

P.F. CHANG'S Soothing Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Servings: (recipe for ONE below, multiply as needed)

8 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp dry sherry
2 tsp water
salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
5 TBSP oil
1 tsp fresh minced ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, minced
2 small dried chilis, (optional)
8 oz can bamboo shoots, minced
8 oz can waterchestnuts, minced
1 package cellophane Chinese rice noodles, prepared according to package

Cooking Sauce:
1 TBSP Hoisin sauce
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP dry sherry
2 TBSP oyster sauce
2 TBSP water
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch

Iceberg lettuce "cups" leaves ( I tryed the Iceberg lettuce and did not like it so I changed it to a bibb or other leaf lettuce )

Cover mushrooms with boiling water, let stand 30 minutes then drain. Cut and
discard woody stems. Minces mushrooms. Set aside. Mix all ingredients for
cooking sauce in bowl, and set aside. In medium bowl, combine cornstarch, sherry
water, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and chicken. Stir to coat chicken thoroughly.
Stir in 1 tsp. oil and let sit 15 minutes to marinate. Heat wok or large skillet
over medium high heat. Add 3 TBSP oil, then add chicken and stir fry for about
3-4 minutes. Set aside. Add 2 TBSP oil to pan. Add ginger, garlic, chilies(if
desired), and onion; stir fry about a minute or so. Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots
and water chestnuts; stir fry an additional 2 minutes. Return chicken to pan.
Add mixed cooking sauce to pan. Cook until thickened and hot. Break cooked
cellophane noodles into small pieces, and cover bottom of serving dish with
them. Then pour chicken mixture on top of noodles. Spoon into lettuce leaf and
Roll.

And here's another one I found for you:

CHERRY CHICKEN WRAPS

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 pound dark sweet cherries, pitted and halved
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/3 cup toasted and sliced almonds
12 leaves of lettuce


Directions
1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger and chicken and saute until cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 1 tablespoon oil, vinegar, teriyaki sauce and honey until mixed together. Add chicken mixture, cherries, carrot, green onion and almonds; toss together.
3. To Serve: Spoon 1/12 of the chicken/cherry mixture onto the center of each lettuce leaf; roll up leaf around filling and serve.



Makes 6 servings



[This message has been edited by Jeanne G (edited 11-07-2000).]

[laden]

There's a recipe for these in the make ahead supplement.

[SusanL]

We don't have a P.F. Chang's in my area, where are they located? I guess I should check to see if they have a website for their locations. The lettuce wrap recipe looks wonderful!! Thanks.

[kwormann]

Susan L

I live in Houston where there is a Changs, but from the other posts, it look like it is also in FLA and SO CA. ALl I can say is FIND ONE! It is an incredible exoerience. If you do find one, take a group. They serve family style and you get try everything!

kim

[SusanL]

Kworrmann-thanks! I emailed PF Chang's yesterday and they returned with a responce the same day! They will be visiting the Philadelphia and Marelton New Jersey areas this weekend looking for a new location. By next year there will be one in Pittsburgh! Their website looks fantastic, we can't wait to try one!!I will have to try the lettuce wraps!!

[This message has been edited by SusanL (edited 11-09-2000).]