Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps with Rice Noodles and Cucumber Relish

Recipe by From a Chef's Kitchen

These Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps with Rice Noodles and Cucumber Relish are a fun, festive and healthful summertime dinner for two.

Ingredients

• dipping SAUCE
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
• 1 garlic clove
• filling
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 small Onion (Finely chopped)
• ¾ pound lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon ginger (minced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar (packed)
• 2 teaspoons Chili garlic sauce (or to taste )
• freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• cucumber RELISH
• 1 english (hothouse) cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 3 scallions, white and light green part only (chopped)
• ¼ cup cilantro
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar (or to taste)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• lettuce AND TOPPINGS
• 6 large leaves Boston lettuce
• 1 sprig fresh basil (thinly sliced)
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• 1 ounce rice noodles (prepared per package instructions and drained well)
• ½ cup Peanuts (coarsely chopped )
• lime wedges

Method

1. SAUCE:  Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.  Divide into small bowls for each diner.
2. FILLING:  Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Cook onion and ginger 4-5 minutes or until softened.  Add garlic and beef.  Cook 4-5 minutes or until beef is browned and no longer pink, crumbling the beef into small pieces as you go.  Drain well.  Stir in remaining filling ingredients.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally or until almost evaporated.
3. RELISH:  Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
4. TO ASSEMBLE:  Spoon meat mixture onto lettuce leaves, top with basil, carrots, rice noodles, peanuts and lime wedges as desired.  Roll up and serve with dipping sauce.

View the recipe instructions at From a Chef's Kitchen