Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable version)
Savory beef and cashew filling in crisp lettuce cups with Asian-inspired flavors
# List of ingredients:
→ For the Beef Filling
01 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
02 - 1 pound lean ground beef
03 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely diced
05 - 1 medium carrot, finely diced
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts, roughly chopped
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ For the Sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
12 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
15 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
→ For Serving
16 - 1 large head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
18 - Lime wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and just cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes.
02 - Add the garlic, onion, carrot, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
03 - Add the cashew nuts and spring onions to the mixture, stirring to combine evenly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, grated ginger, brown sugar, and chili flakes. Pour the sauce into the beef mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until heated through and fragrant.
05 - Remove from heat. Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Spoon the beef-cashew mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of textures, from crunchy cashews to crisp lettuce, makes every bite exciting
- These come together in under 30 minutes but taste like something from a restaurant
02 -
- Never skip the step of washing and thoroughly drying your lettuce leaves, any water left on them will make the filling slide right off
- The mixture keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to three days, but always store it separately from the lettuce
03 -
- If your lettuce cups keep tearing, try warming the whole head slightly in the microwave for 10 seconds, the leaves become more pliable
- Use kitchen shears to snip the fresh cilantro right over the platter, it releases more oils that way