The King, The Colonel, or The Clown?
The King, The Colonel, or The Clown. If you are having a Big Mac Attack, this could very well be your answer to the familiar question: What's for dinner? If you are, in fact, NOT having a Big Mac Attack (most likely the case), then forgo the drive thru, and make a fun, fresh, spicy, healthy, spring dinner at home!
I've always been a fan of asian cuisine, but have never really been a fan of making it at home. There are unusual, expensive ingredients that in my own experience are not used often enough to justify the cost, and the end result is rarely as delectable as ordering out.
Because of this, I have been on a quest, researching asian recipes utitlizing everyday ingredients. My test kitchen (that would be me) has developed a delicious take on a restaurant favorite using everyday ingredients. This is part "trial and error", and part "use what I have". Necessity is the mother of all invention. If a recipe calls for an ingredient that I don't have on hand, I'll substitute with something that I do have on hand. Great recipes are born this way. Also, dinner's out are born this way too (i.e. recipe "post-substitution" goes down the insinkerator).
Here is my fun, fresh take on Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
Ingredients
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 or until done. Add chopped red bell pepper, and cook another 5 minutes. Set aside.
Place sugar and remaining ingredients (sugar through water) in a blender, and process until smooth, scraping sides. Add peanut butter mixture to chicken mixture; stir well. Set aside.
On each piece of lettuce, place a spoonful of rice, then chicken mixture, then top with bean sprouts. Wrap lettuce and eat!
I've always been a fan of asian cuisine, but have never really been a fan of making it at home. There are unusual, expensive ingredients that in my own experience are not used often enough to justify the cost, and the end result is rarely as delectable as ordering out.
Because of this, I have been on a quest, researching asian recipes utitlizing everyday ingredients. My test kitchen (that would be me) has developed a delicious take on a restaurant favorite using everyday ingredients. This is part "trial and error", and part "use what I have". Necessity is the mother of all invention. If a recipe calls for an ingredient that I don't have on hand, I'll substitute with something that I do have on hand. Great recipes are born this way. Also, dinner's out are born this way too (i.e. recipe "post-substitution" goes down the insinkerator).
Here is my fun, fresh take on Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 bonless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin
- 2 cups chopped red bell pepper
- Bean sprouts
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 head of iceburg lettuce, leaves separated
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha hot chili sauce (substitute 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper if you do not have Sriracha)
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 C water
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 or until done. Add chopped red bell pepper, and cook another 5 minutes. Set aside.
Place sugar and remaining ingredients (sugar through water) in a blender, and process until smooth, scraping sides. Add peanut butter mixture to chicken mixture; stir well. Set aside.
On each piece of lettuce, place a spoonful of rice, then chicken mixture, then top with bean sprouts. Wrap lettuce and eat!
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused. -- Not an old Chinese Proverb.
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