These lettuce wraps are a summer dream. Piles of crunchy ground chicken, fluffy quinoa, and rice add to the satisfaction, and garlicky ginger-flavored Saudi lettuce leaves are filled with vegetables.

It’s that time again, friends, when we give up all cutlery and just stuff lettuce rolls with piles of crumbled crispy chicken, fluffy quinoa and rice for added satisfaction, and a few other garlicky ginger stir-fried vegetables in crisp, buttery lettuce leaves and eat them with our hands.

Then we’ll top these rolls with a rich, sweet/thick/lime sauce and maybe a little spicy mayonnaise to make them a rave night.

What’s in these chicken lettuce wraps

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These lettuce wraps are the perfect way to take advantage of any vegetables, CSA, or home garden you might have later this summer, so we wanted to put it on top of your head. You can start a personal race to see how much you can cover in limewater.

Our favorite filling combinations are:

1. Ground chicken (you can also use ground pork!)
2. Carrot + zucchini (but feel free to substitute/add other vegetables!)
3. The quinoa and rice mixture is more glamorous (we’re keeping it simple here with a pre-cooked packet (affiliate link))

This is mixed with garlic, ginger, scallions, and a little soy sauce, so it’s really flavorful!

The fantastic lime rain just needs a shake, like all great pranks. The lemonade was inspired by a cookbook by Tess Masters called The Perfect Blend. You need the juice of 5-6 limes. Then add some other spices, like soy sauce, sesame oil, and a little brown sugar, and let’s get back to the garlic and ginger party, shall we?

Endless filling options

Well, if what your fridge/pantry/heart tells you is different from the ingredients listed here, there’s room for fun and flexibility. You can mix the choice of meat, giving ground pork or ground Turkey a spin. The added vegetables can be changed at will.

We like to add grains, so everything feels more satisfying, but if you don’t like the quinoa/rice mix, you can add white or brown rice or omit it altogether!

We also tried the mushroom and walnut version, a perfect vegetarian option. Crumbled tofu, which we’ve used in other summer lettuce rolls, can also be used.

Lettuce Wrap: Let’s talk

Not all lettuce is created equal. You want something that will hold the a + and not wilt when the heated ingredients touch it. It would help if you also had something sturdier to keep it in shape, so you don’t pile all the goodies in there, saturate it, and then it falls out of the bottom. You also don’t want it to taste too strong or naturally bitter.

Some lettuce with the best results:

1. Cream of lettuce is our favorite, especially if you can find a live head of butter lettuce. Also known as Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce, it has large, round leaves that are firm but still pliable, making it ideal for stuffing and packaging. It also tastes mild and… like butter! The perfect compliment.
2. Romaine lettuce, either green or red, is also a good choice. It’s easy to find, and its wide leaves will still have a little crunch when filled. Cut off the stems to get nice, round leaves to wrap around.
3. Romaine lettuce. The leaves are narrower, more like a boat and less like a wrap, but they have a nice crunch! But because the crunch is nice, it also means that these leaves are more likely to break on you. Oh, no, stuffing!

Maybe you want to be a little adventurous and make some Swiss chard, salted cabbage, or kale? The world is yours!

How to make spicy mayonnaise

If you’re not already a member of the Spicy Mayonnaise Club, consider becoming a member today! Here’s how you can apply:

• Mix half a cup of mayonnaise with a few tablespoons of Sriracha sauce

There it is! You are here! Now, keep using it to make what you eat even better.

Sure, there’s no “requirement” on these lettuce wraps, but thank you very much, you know? It gives it an unmatched, unique, spicy, and creamy taste. Here are some other common uses of spicy mayonnaise:

• Crunchy roll bowl
• Spicy cauliflower burger
• Lemongrass meatball bowl
• Dip your chips in it, and believe it!

Anything else to lime (yes, it’s a verb)

An actual verb. That means you have to do it. We’ve already tried it as a solid spring salad dressing. You may want to brush it on grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables. Is this going to be a great burrito? Will it improve your rice or noodle bowl game? Do you need to add flavor to what you’re eating? With so many flavors, it seems a shame not to start dreaming and planning.

Comment or tag us on Instagram and tell us what you’re drenching! We want to know.

May this summer be sunny, with joy in your bones and plenty of food in your hands.

Lettuce wrap: Common problem

How do I make these vegetarian dishes?

Use ground tofu instead of chicken or pork! Check out this recipe. Another option is to make only rice and vegetables; the texture of crushed mushrooms and walnuts is also good.

What kind of lettuce is best for lettuce wraps?

Our recommendation is butter lettuce – preferably purchased as head lettuce. Its leaves are large, pliable, and have a perfect buttery taste. This is often referred to as live lettuce with a root. Remove the leaves, give them a quick rinse, pat dry, and wrap.

How spicy is the mayonnaise?

It’s a choose-your-own-adventure! We usually add 2-3 tablespoons of sriracha to a half cup of mayonnaise, but if you prefer more or less heat, you can increase or decrease the amount of sriracha to taste. If you add too much, add more mayonnaise until you find the right level of spiciness.

Instructions

1. Brown the chicken with olive oil until cooked and broken up in a large frying pan.
2. Leave a little grated garlic and ginger in the lemon juice. While the chicken is cooking, soak the lemon juice in the jar.
3. Add the remaining garlic, ginger, spring Onions, zucchini, and carrots to the chicken in the skillet. Saut for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables are tender and fragrant. (Chicken doesn’t have much fat, so I usually add more oil, soy sauce, or even a little water to bring out the flavor from the bottom of the pan.)
4. Add rice and quinoa to the filling. Cook until tender and heat through. Season to taste.
5. Fill a lettuce cup with the filling, drizzle with lime juice, and drizzle with spicy mayonnaise. Look! There are so many vegetables, so many flavors.