Keyword: asian lettuce wraps, beef and cucumbers, beef lettuce wraps, coconut rice, soy sauce
Servings: 6people
Ingredients
1.5lbsground beefI like 90/10
½cupred oniondiced small
2cupsseedless cucumberdiced small (1/2 a large seedless cucumber)
1tspfresh gingergrated
3tbspsoy sauce
2tbspbalsamic vinegar
1tbspbrown sugar
3clovesgarlicminced
2tbspchili pasteI prefer Sambal Oelek
⅓cupgreen onionschopped (plus extra for garnish)
2limescut into wedges
½cupcarrotsshredded for topping
1headbutter lettuce
salt and pepper
Coconut Rice
2cupsjasmine rice
1 ½cupscoconut milkcanned, full fat
2cupswater
1tspsalt
Topping options (choose any that you like):
bell pepperssliced thin
jalapeñosdiced small
fresh mint leaves
fresh cilantro leaves
fresh basil leaves
quick pickled cucumbers and red onionsslice and soak in rice vinegar 10+ minutes
sriracha
soy sauce
Instructions
Garlic Beef
Heat a large skillet to medium high and add the beef. Break up into small pieces with a wooden spoon as the meat browns, 7-8 minutes.
Add the red onion and cucumber to the ground beef and sauté 4-5 minutes until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally.
Add ginger, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, chili paste and green onions. Stir to combine and allow liquid to cook into beef 6-8 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Turn heat off while you assemble all lettuce wrap components.
Tear your butter lettuce leaves off of the stem, rinse and dry with paper towels.
Assemble one big plate of toppings with the lime wedges, extra chopped green onions and shredded carrots plus any other topping options you chose.
Scoop a couple spoonfuls of the garlicky beef and the coconut rice into butter lettuce leaves and top with your choice of toppings.
Coconut Rice
Combine coconut milk, water and salt in a medium pot and bring to a light simmer over medium high heat.
Stir in the rice and allow to come up to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and cover with a tight fitting lid and let simmer approximately 15 minutes without opening or stirring.
Turn heat off and let rice sit 5 minutes before removing the lid.
Remove the lid and fluff lightly with a fork.
Notes
Save time by prepping all toppings and ingredients first. Next, start your coconut rice and once you've reached the step of covering the rice with a lid to let it simmer set your rice timer and move on to cooking your beef filling. Everything will finish about the same time and you'll be ready to plate as soon as the beef is done cooking.