Asian Lettuce Cups with Spicy Ground Turkey Filling

That's right, I'm finally back!  We've got a working refrigerator, it's not new, it's old, ugly and almond in color, but it works.  We're going to keep it as our "garage fridge" once we get a real new one.  The only downside is we're keeping it in the garage.  Lots of trips to and from the garage when cooking can be a pain, but at least we have a refrigerator again!

I've cooked a bit in the last week, just nothing too exciting.  Tonight I finally cooked something new and exciting for dinner.  I'm super excited to share this recipe.  It turned out super yummy and Jon and I both loved it.

Cast of characters

Here's the link to the original recipe and here's how I made it.

Asian Lettuce Cups with Spicy Ground Turkey Filling
Serves 4-6

Prep time 10 mins

Cook time 20 mins

1 T vegetable oil (or slightly more, depending on the pan you have)
3 T minced shallots
2 T minced garlic
2 T grated ginger root
1 lb ground turkey
4 T soy sauce
1 T Chile Oil
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (about 1/2 large bunch)

1 small can water chestnuts
chopped peanuts (as many as you'd like, we used a bunch)
2 small heads butter lettuce

1. Chop onion and set aside.

2. Peel ginger root, then grate with the large side of a cheese grater.

3.Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add onion and saute about 2 minutes, then add garlic and ginger root and saute about one minute more.

4. Add ground turkey to frying pan (with a bit more oil if needed) and break apart and spread out with turner.

5. Add soy sauce and chili garlic sauce. Cook until the turkey is brown and crumbling apart, and the sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
6. While turkey cooks, wash and chop fresh cilantro to make 1 cup. Also, chop the water chestnuts into smallish pieces.

7. Remove the core end from lettuce, separate leaves and wash. 

8. Chop peanuts and put in small bowl to serve at the table.
9. When turkey is done, add chopped cilantro and water chestnuts and cook 1-2 minutes more.

10. Serve filling and lettuce leaves in separate bowls and chopped peanuts in another small bowl.

To assemble, each person takes a lettuce leaf, fills with desired amount of turkey mixture, adds chopped peanuts and sauce (see below) and then eats the mixture from the lettuce cup.  Like a lettuce filled taco.

YUM!

I also made a sauce to go on the filling.  I just mixed soy sauce, chili oil and minced garlic together in a small bowl.  It turned out really good.  It reminded me of the sauce P.F. Changs makes for their lettuce wraps.

Like I said, we loved this recipe.  Next time I make it I'm going to make some modifications.  I'm going to add mushrooms and green onions and use fish sauce.  This recipe is differently a "keeper".