Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable Version)

Crisp lettuce cups filled with seasoned beef, crunchy cashews, and fresh vegetables in Asian-style sauces.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried

→ Nuts

07 - ½ cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped

→ Sauces & Condiments

08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
11 - 1 tsp sesame oil
12 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 1 tsp chili sauce

→ Garnishes

14 - Fresh coriander leaves
15 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the garlic and ginger to the pan; stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the carrot, bell pepper, and half of the spring onions. Cook for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
04 - Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce. Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
05 - Stir in the cashews and cook for 1 minute, just to warm them through. Remove from heat and adjust seasoning if necessary.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with remaining spring onions and fresh coriander. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • The combination of warm savory beef and cool crisp lettuce is somehow perfect every single time
  • You can prep everything ahead and just warm the filling when guests arrive
  • Everyone gets to build their own perfect bite which makes dinner genuinely fun
02 -
  • Work quickly once the lettuce leaves are filled because they start to wilt and lose their satisfying crunch
  • The filling actually tastes better if you make it a few hours ahead and reheat it gently before serving
  • Butter lettuce leaves are more fragile than they appear so handle them gently when washing and drying
03 -
  • Dry your lettuce leaves thoroughly after washing because water makes the filling slide right off
  • Toast your cashews in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them for an extra layer of flavor

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