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Chinese-American inspired · Recipes

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

鸡肉生菜包 · Jī ròu shēng cài bāo

Warm minced chicken and crunchy water chestnuts spooned into cool lettuce leaves. Keep the washed lettuce separate until serving.

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Prep15 min
Cook12 min
Serves2
DifficultyEasy
Chicken Lettuce Wraps — AI-generated dish reference, not a photo
AI-generated dish reference · not a photograph · China Table · AI-generated · Original AI illustration
Recipe guide · not yet kitchen-testedAI-assisted editorial draft. Timing depends on your stove, pan, and ingredient size. Use the doneness checks below.

Let’s get cooking

  1. 01

    Clean and separate

    Rinse lettuce leaves thoroughly and dry them. Drain and chop water chestnuts and mushrooms; keep ready-to-eat lettuce away from raw chicken.

  2. 02

    Cook chicken

    Heat oil and fry chicken over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes, breaking up clumps, until all parts reach 74°C.

  3. 03

    Add the crunch

    Add garlic, ginger, mushrooms, and water chestnuts. Stir 3–4 minutes until mushrooms are tender.

  4. 04

    Season and fill

    Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and water. Simmer 1–2 minutes until moist but not runny. Let cool slightly, then spoon into leaves immediately before eating.

A little kitchen wisdom

Do not fill all leaves far ahead of serving: heat and sauce quickly soften them.

Can’t find an ingredient?

Water chestnuts: Use finely diced celery for a different crunch; cook it with the mushrooms.

Cook safely

Chicken must reach 74°C / 165°F in the thickest part. Keep raw poultry and cooked food separate.

FoodSafety.gov guidance ↗