So I failed to tell you the entire culinary story of Ben’s and my Vegas Vacation…
Our first night there, feeling brave after a rather large can of Sapporo, we each dove face first into a Pinks Hotdog, whose newly opened location was strategically placed right outside our hotel. A Classic Dog for him, and a Rueben Dog for her. I know.
Whatever. One bite of the snappy casing, sour ‘kraut and salty pastrami and it was lights out. When in Vegas!
The other meal I failed to mention took place late one night after returning home from sipping cocktails and shooting craps at the casinos. I had previously turned up my nose to the P.F. Chang’s located in the lobby of our hotel, preferring to dine at non-chain restaurants for all major-meals while on vacation. But as I looked at the clock, I came to realize that it certainly wasn’t a major-meal hour of the day morning, and the smell wafting from the restaurant’s open doors smelled too good to resist.
Bring on the chain restaurant – and the Lettuce Wraps – whee!
P.F.Chang’s Lettuce Wraps – I am telling you – salty, greasy, PERFECT. If you’ve ever had them, I bet you’ll agree. But sometimes they can be a little too greasy, know what I mean?
That’s why I decided to recreate.
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P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
Description
P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps copycat recipe tastes just like the restaurant's version, but are made a lot healthier, and gluten-free - at home!
Ingredients
- 1lb ground chicken breast
- 1/2 onion, minced
- salt & pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1" knob ginger, peeled & minced
- 2-1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
- 1/2 Tablespoon water
- 1/2 Tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
- 10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry
Directions
- Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add chicken, onion, salt & pepper, then cook until chicken is nearly done, stirring often to break up the meat. Add garlic and ginger then continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, peanut butter, water, honey, chili garlic sauce and pepper. Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine.
- Add green onions and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 1-2 minutes until the onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with cold lettuce leaves.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I die. I die for this dish! It is FANtastic, and so much lighter than PFC’s!
Salty, crunchy and crispy – fun too! Simply pile the chicken mixture onto a lettuce leaf,
roll,
and chomp. AWESOME. The fuller you stuff ’em, the better, too. My first wrap was kind of weak sauce, so I really jammed the filling in with the others. Much better. You have to make these!
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[…] husband and I also visited the family, made delicious lettuce wraps, and bottled wine this weekend. I definitely recommend the lettuce wraps for any of you that […]
Erin 09.11.2011
Hi Kristin-
I’m a long-time reader but have never commented before. Just wanted to let you know that I made the lettuce wraps for dinner tonight, and they were AWESOME! Even my “meat and potatoes” husband loved them:) Thanks for this awesome recipe; we will be having these again!
Minnie 09.07.2011
We just made the lettuce wraps for dinner and they were delicious! Definitely going into the regular menu rotation.
Blair 08.13.2011
Love chicken lettuce wraps, and I was so happy to see this recipe. Just made them for dinner tonight, and they were delicious. So easy and quick to prepare too. Now I finally have a way to use up all that rice vinegar and sesame oil I’d purchased a while back. :P Even my husband thought it was great and filling too!
@Krissa…You should be able to find ground chicken at just about any grocery in the meat department. I bought mine at Walmart, prepackaged.
Heather 07.18.2011
Hi Kristin! I made your lettuce wraps last night for dinner. Amazing!! They are definitely going to be a staple.
Krissa 06.25.2011
Where do you find ground chicken? Or do you ask them to grind it for you at the store?
Jess 03.06.2012
go to the poultry section of your local grocery. its usually around where they sell the prepackaged breasts & thighs. if you can’t find ground chicken, i’m sure ground turckey is just as good.
Kathy 06.20.2011
I am hosting Recipe Night tomorrow night and made these ahead tonight in preparation. Since I pick the water chestnuts out of lettuce wraps at PFChang’s, I omitted them and loved this dish even more. But that’s just a selfish preference!
I can’t wait to show off my new finding to the ladies!
FYI… some girls & I from church have Recipe Night once a year. Everyone brings a dish to share (any course and no need to assign or rsvp with courses – it always works out, and so what if you only have apps & dessert – it’s still a girls night out!) and 20 copies of the recipe. We all get to try each others’ food and then leave with new ideas/recipes!
FYI #2… I myself am a former Iowa girl and even a farmer’s daughter – from birth until I went to college… fond memories and I love to visit my family!
Lauren 06.18.2011
Making these tonight! Thank you!
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Stephanie 05.04.2011
I made the lettuce wraps for dinner tonight and they were super delicious! Easy to make (easier than I thought they would be). Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!!
Debbie 05.04.2011
I made the lettuce wraps tonight and I highly recommend them. Easy and delicious. Thank you for the new recipe.
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Terin 04.29.2011
Cheesecake Factory and Texas Roadhouse!
Jenn 04.29.2011
Like many of the PP’s, I LOVE P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps. I tried your recipe — amazing! Though I was initially a bit intimidating by the lengthy ingredient list, it was totally worth it. Thanks for sharing!!
Monica 04.28.2011
Panera is my favorite chain. And I have to recreate that dish this next week. Yum!
I will have to look for that new ice cream endorsed by Duff! Sounds good!
Cass 04.27.2011
ahhh, panera french onion soup is my all time fav! i’ll have to try friday’s to see how it compares :)
Karen 04.27.2011
I just got some of that IC because they were sampling at Hy-Vee…its good!!