Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe
These Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps offer a flavorful and healthy twist on a classic appetizer. Ground beef is cooked with garlic, ginger, bell pepper, and shredded carrots, then simmered in a savory and slightly sweet sauce made from maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. Served in crisp Boston Bibb lettuce leaves and garnished with sesame seeds, these wraps are perfect for a light lunch or easy dinner. Optional steamed white or cauliflower rice can be added to make the meal more filling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 wraps without rice, 12 wraps with rice 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or brown sugar, or coconut sugar)
- ¼ cup coconut aminos (or tamari, or soy sauce)
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- ¼ – ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Main
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 4 whole green onions, sliced into 1” pieces
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish
- Boston Bibb lettuce leaves
- Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Combine the maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a measuring cup. Whisk until fully combined. Add the arrowroot powder and whisk again until smooth and well incorporated.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon to break it up, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Stir in minced garlic and grated fresh ginger. Cook while stirring continuously until very fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook vegetables: Add the finely diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but still slightly crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Simmer with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine. Allow to simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and season with kosher salt and ground black pepper as needed.
- Add green onions: Stir in the sliced green onions until evenly distributed throughout the filling.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon the warm beef mixture into Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Optionally add steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice to the wraps for a heartier meal. Garnish each wrap with sesame seeds. This recipe makes approximately 8 lettuce wraps without rice, or 12 wraps with rice.
Notes
- Maple syrup can be substituted with brown sugar or coconut sugar to adjust sweetness preference.
- Coconut aminos provide a soy-free alternative to tamari or soy sauce, but any soy-based sauce can be used.
- Arrowroot powder is a gluten-free thickener; cornstarch is an acceptable alternative if preferred.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the level of heat according to your taste.
- Boston Bibb lettuce is preferred for its tender and sturdy leaves, but other butter or iceberg lettuce varieties can be used.
- For a lower-carb option, use cauliflower rice instead of steamed white rice or omit rice altogether.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of ground beef for a leaner protein option.
Keywords: Asian lettuce wraps, ground beef lettuce wraps, low carb dinner, easy dinner recipe, healthy wraps, gluten free, quick beef recipe
