Description
These Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a flavorful, healthy dish featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a savory hoisin and soy sauce mixture, combined with crunchy cashews and a touch of heat from Sriracha. Served in crisp lettuce cups, this recipe makes for a light yet satisfying appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil (or substitute canola oil)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Sriracha hot sauce, to taste
Garnishes
- 3/4 cup unsalted cashews
- 1 head green leafy lettuce (romaine, bibb, or butter lettuce), leaves separated and washed
- 5 green onions, chopped and divided
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper evenly to enhance the flavor before cooking.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, grated ginger, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch until well combined and smooth.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes, turning once, until they are cooked through and no longer pink inside.
- Add Garlic and Sauce: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low, pour in the prepared sauce, and stir continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Finish the Filling: Stir in the Sriracha hot sauce according to your heat preference. Mix in the cashews and most of the chopped green onions, saving a handful for garnish.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the hot chicken and cashew mixture into chilled lettuce leaves to create wraps. Garnish with the remaining green onions and serve immediately for a fresh and crunchy bite.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with firm tofu or tempeh and use vegetable broth.
- If you prefer less heat, start with 1 teaspoon of Sriracha and adjust to taste.
- Butter lettuce or bibb lettuce are preferable for wraps as they hold fillings well and add a delicate crunch.
- To speed up prep, chop the chicken and green onions ahead of time.
- Cashews add crunch and a subtle nutty flavor, but you can substitute with peanuts if preferred or toasting them slightly enhances flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Cashew chicken lettuce wraps, Asian chicken wraps, low-fat chicken recipe, hoisin chicken, healthy lettuce wraps
