Boldly flavored with fresh ginger, lime, chili pepper, fish sauce and brown sugar, these crisp lettuce cups filled with Thai-style minced chicken touch all your taste sensations. They are wildly addictive — in fact, whenever I make them for dinner, I have to force myself to put the leftovers in the fridge right away before starting the dishes, otherwise I’ll finish them off while no one is watching!

Ingredients

• 1 large head iceberg or butter lettuce
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large red onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger (you’ll need a thick 2-inch piece)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds ground chicken (not all breast meat)
• 1-1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce (see note*)
• 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons lime zest, from 2 limes
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, from 1-1/2 limes
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 large scallions, white and green parts, finely sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup chopped cashews or peanuts

Optional For Serving

• Sriracha
• Finely sliced carrots
• Lime wedges
• Cilantro and/or mint sprigs

Preparation

1. Fill a large bowl with cold water.
2. Place the head of lettuce on a cutting board; cut off the stem, then cut around the inner core of the lettuce and remove (do not cut all the way through the lettuce; just deep enough to remove the core).
3. Discard the flimsy, ragged outer leaves and then place the head of lettuce in the bowl of water.
4. Gently pull apart the leaves, then place them on a paper towel to dry.
5. Cut any large leaves in half.
6. Chill the lettuce cups in refrigerator until ready to serve.
7. Heat the oil in large sauté pan over medium heat.
8. Add the onion and ginger and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 4-5 minutes.
9. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
10. Add the ground chicken and turn the heat up to high.
11. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until partially cooked through, about 3 minutes.
12. Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime zest, lime juice and red pepper flakes and continue cooking, stirring frequently to break up the meat, until the chicken is cooked through, 5-6 minutes more.
13. Off the heat, stir in the scallions, cilantro, mint and nuts.
14. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
15. Spoon into lettuce cups and serve with optional garnishes.

Cook’s Note

Some brands of fish sauce are stronger than others. If using a milder fish sauce (such as Kame brand) you’ll need to add about a tablespoon more.