Savory Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These scrumptious Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps bring the delectable taste of your favorite restaurant into your home kitchen. With a burst of flavors from shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and a savory cooking sauce, this dish offers a delightful fusion of textures and aromas. Perfectly seasoned ground chicken with the crunch of fresh lettuce cups makes this dish a family favorite. While it might require a bit of effort, the result is an impressive meal that rivals the restaurant standard. Share these wraps with friends, and savor every bite of this delicious copycat.
6
Servings
N/A
Calories
24
Ingredients
Ingredients
shiitake mushrooms
8 (minced)
cornstarch
1 teaspoon
soy sauce
1 teaspoon
dry sherry
2 teaspoons
water
2 teaspoons
salt and pepper
to taste
ground chicken
1.5 lbs
oil
5 tablespoons
fresh ginger
1 teaspoon (minced)
garlic cloves
2 (minced)
green onions
2 (minced)
dried chilies
2 small (optional)
bamboo shoots
1 (8 ounce) can (minced)
water chestnuts
1 (8 ounce) can (minced)
cellophane noodles
1 (2 ounce) package (prepared and fried)
hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons
soy sauce
1 tablespoon
dry sherry
1 tablespoon
oyster sauce
2 tablespoons
water
2 tablespoons
sesame oil
1 teaspoon
sugar
1 teaspoon
cornstarch
2 teaspoons
iceberg lettuce leaves
12 (cups)
Instructions
1
If using dried mushrooms, pour boiling water over them and allow to sit and rehydrate for 30 minutes. Drain well, remove and discard any woody stems, then mince the mushrooms.
2
In a separate bowl, prepare the cooking sauce by mixing hoisin sauce, soy sauce, dry sherry, oyster sauce, water, sesame oil, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir until smooth and set aside.
3
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken with 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 2 teaspoons dry sherry, 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat the chicken. Add 1 teaspoon of oil and marinate for 15 minutes.
4
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of oil and stir-fry the marinated chicken for 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
5
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan. Stir-fry the minced ginger, garlic, optional chilies, and green onions for about a minute until fragrant.
6
Add the minced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts to the pan. Stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes.
7
Return the cooked chicken to the pan and pour in the prepared cooking sauce. Stir well and cook until the sauce is hot and thickened.
8
Meanwhile, prepare the cellophane noodles according to package instructions, then heat an inch of oil in a skillet. Test with a few noodle crumbs; when they sizzle, add the noodles. They crisp up quickly. Drain the noodles on paper towels and place them at the bottom of a serving dish.
9
Pour the chicken mixture over the crispy noodles. To serve, spoon the mixture into lettuce leaves, wrap, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Savory Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps?
They are a restaurant-quality dish featuring ground chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots in a savory sauce, served over crispy cellophane noodles in lettuce cups.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe yields approximately 6 servings.
What are the primary ingredients for the chicken marinade?
The chicken is marinated with cornstarch, dry sherry, water, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and a teaspoon of oil.
How do I prepare dried shiitake mushrooms for this recipe?
Pour boiling water over them, let them rehydrate for 30 minutes, drain well, remove woody stems, and then mince them.
What goes into the Szechuan cooking sauce?
The sauce is a mixture of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, dry sherry, oyster sauce, water, sesame oil, sugar, and cornstarch.
How long should the chicken marinate?
The ground chicken should be marinated for about 15 minutes before cooking.
What kind of lettuce is recommended for the wraps?
The recipe calls for 12 iceberg lettuce leaves to be used as serving cups.
How do I make the cellophane noodles crispy?
After preparing them according to the package, fry them in an inch of hot oil until they sizzle and crisp up, then drain on paper towels.
What aromatics are used in the stir-fry?
The aromatics include minced fresh ginger, garlic, green onions, and optional small dried chilies.
Are there any crunchy vegetables included in the filling?
Yes, the filling includes minced bamboo shoots and water chestnuts for a delightful crunch.
How long does it take to cook the chicken?
The marinated chicken should be stir-fried for about 3-4 minutes until it is cooked through.
Can I make this dish spicy?
Yes, you can include two small dried chilies during the aromatic stir-fry phase to add heat.
What is the total number of ingredients needed?
This recipe requires 24 different ingredients including the sauces and marinade components.
What is the purpose of the crispy noodles?
The crispy noodles are placed at the bottom of the serving dish to provide a textural contrast to the savory chicken mixture.
How much ground chicken is required?
The recipe uses 1.5 lbs of ground chicken.
Is sesame oil included in the recipe?
Yes, one teaspoon of sesame oil is used in the cooking sauce for a nutty aroma.
What kind of mushrooms are best for this dish?
Shiitake mushrooms are recommended for their deep, savory flavor.
How do I test if the oil is ready for frying noodles?
Test the oil with a few noodle crumbs; if they sizzle immediately, the oil is ready.
Is there sugar in the recipe?
Yes, one teaspoon of sugar is added to the cooking sauce to balance the savory and salty elements.
Can I use dry sherry in both the marinade and the sauce?
Yes, the recipe uses dry sherry in both the chicken marinade and the final cooking sauce.
How much oil is used for the stir-fry steps?
A total of 5 tablespoons of oil is used: 3 tablespoons for the chicken and 2 tablespoons for the vegetables.
Is oyster sauce a necessary component?
Yes, 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce are used to provide the signature savory depth of the sauce.
How many garlic cloves should I use?
The recipe calls for 2 minced garlic cloves.
What size can of bamboo shoots is needed?
You will need one 8-ounce can of bamboo shoots, which should be minced.
Do I need to mince the water chestnuts?
Yes, one 8-ounce can of water chestnuts should be minced before being added to the pan.
What is the first step in preparing the filling?
The first step is to rehydrate and mince the shiitake mushrooms if using the dried variety.
How do I serve these wraps?
Spoon the hot chicken mixture over the crispy noodles, then allow guests to scoop the mixture into lettuce leaves and wrap them.
What tags define this recipe?
It is tagged as Asian cuisine, appetizer, chicken, copycat recipe, lettuce wraps, and Szechuan.
Is this a good recipe for entertaining?
Yes, it is described as a family favorite and an impressive meal that rivals restaurant standards, making it great for sharing.
Can I substitute ground chicken?
While the recipe specifies ground chicken, similar lettuce wrap recipes often allow for ground turkey or pork as alternatives.