Beef Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin (Printable View)

Flavorful seasoned beef in crisp lettuce cups with tangy hoisin glaze and fresh vegetables.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 1 medium carrot, grated
08 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Sauce

09 - 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce

→ Serving

14 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and dried
15 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts or cashews, chopped
16 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add onion, garlic, and ginger to the skillet. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in red bell pepper and carrot. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until vegetables are slightly softened.
05 - Pour the sauce over the beef mixture. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
06 - Remove from heat and stir in green onions.
07 - Spoon the beef mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with chopped nuts, sesame seeds, and cilantro if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of warm, savory beef and crisp, cool lettuce creates this incredible temperature and texture contrast that makes every bite exciting
  • Everything comes together in about 30 minutes, but the flavors taste like theyve been simmering all day
  • People can customize their own wraps at the table, which makes dinner feel interactive and fun without any extra work for you
02 -
  • Do not skip draining the excess fat after browning the beef, otherwise your lettuce wraps will end up soggy and fall apart
  • Butter lettuce leaves are more delicate and elegant, but if you want something sturdier that will not tear as easily, go with iceberg
  • The filling needs to be cool enough to handle but still warm when you serve it, otherwise the lettuce wilts instantly from the heat
03 -
  • Grate your ginger against the grain so you get those long, flavorful strands rather than tough fibrous bits
  • If you want to make these gluten-free, just use gluten-free hoisin and soy sauce, the rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free
  • Set up all your toppings in little bowls beforehand, the presentation looks beautiful and it makes the whole experience feel more like a restaurant appetizer

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