These saucy pork lettuce wraps are absolutely delicious.
And you’ll freak at how incredibly easy they are to make. In fact, if you like to meal prep, these lettuce wraps are your new bff. Or maybe you’re looking for a super simple, basically effortless dinner — THIS IS IT.
I first shared this recipe back in 2o10, my first year in the blogging world. My friend Nichole passed this recipe on to me, yet you would never know how ridiculously good the wraps were by looking at my post. Trust me. If you remember this post/recipe at all you would recall the subpar and some slightly (okay, majorly) blurry photos. Also, brown meat in lettuce leaves with a side of some kind of Asian noodles is not attractive to the eye. It was basically, brown wrapped in a little green next to more brown. Oh the horror!!
The old 2010 recipe called for store-bought stir-fry sauce (<—-what?!), but in my 2017 version I now put my homemade stir-fry sauce to use here. I only add a few additional ingredients before loading up soft, buttery lettuce leaves with flavorful, saucy pork. Same delicious recipe, now just completely from scratch.
For some textural crunch, I love to top them with matchstick carrots, green onions and sesame seeds. For some kick, I added thinly sliced jalapeños or a few squirts of Sriracha.
Tuck, roll and inhale. At least that’s how we do it.
Gather all the ingredients and get going!
Heat a large 12-inch chefs pan or wok on high heat. Add 2 teaspoons peanut oil and once the pan is hot, carefully add in the 2 pounds of ground pork. Break it up with a wooden spatula and then add in the onions and garlic.
Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent and soft, stirring every so often.
Once the pork is fully cooked, pour in all of the homemade stir-fry sauce (1-1/2 cups), 2 tablespoons sherry wine and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil.
Bring the sauce up to a boil, stirring often until thick and saucy.
Turn of the heat and remove the pan from the burner and then add the chopped fresh cilantro.
And there you have it, saucy and flavorful pork that’s just begging to be piled into lettuce and topped with all the fixings.
Feel free to go nuts with the toppings. We like; shredded purple cabbage, matchstick carrots, green onions, chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, Sriracha, jalapeños… the list goes on and on.
This recipe makes quite a lot so you have plenty for dinner. And if you’re lucky there will be leftovers.
Enjoy!
My cookbook Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy is now available! CLICK HERE for details and THANK YOU in advance!
Saucy Pork Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground pork
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups stir-fry sauce
- 2 tablespoon sherry cooking wine
- 3/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/3 cup cilantro leaves, tough stems discarded, chopped
- 2 heads butter lettuce, iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves
Optional Toppings:
- 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
- 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
- sliced jalapeño
- lime wedges
- 1/2 cup Chopped peanuts, or cashews
- sriracha
Instructions
- Heat a large wok or 12-inch chefs pan on high heat. Add 2 teaspoons peanut oil and once hot, carefully add in the ground pork.
- Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the pork up before adding in the onion and garlic. Cook until the pork is no longer pink and the onions are soft and translucent.
- Pour in the stir-fry sauce, sherry wine and toasted sesame oil. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium-low until the sauce has thickened. Remove off of the heat and stir in the chopped cilantro leaves.
- Spoon the saucy pork filling in lettuce leaves and top with your favorite veggie toppings.
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These look so good. I have some pork that I have debating what to do with. Sorted and decided! Thanks for sharing! (And beautiful photographs, too!)
I haven't made these for ages! I think perhaps I shouldn't waste time myself, and need to plan for this … 🙂
Yummy! Its a family favorite, my son loves that he can wrap it and eat it (without using a fork)! He's 8, and he's a boy 🙂
Never tried these with ground pork, they look delicious!! I too waited FOREVER to make them for the same reason: thought hubby wouldn't think they were filling. Now he's the one who asks for them 🙂 I am also a non cilantro fan, it tastes like soap to me too. I've read that if you're allergic to cilantro it will taste like soap. Strange but true LOL
Love lettuce wraps!! Looks like a really easy recipe too. Thanks!! kateiscooking
YUM! Lettuce wraps are my favorite dish at PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory.. these look so easy too make.. all I need is pork!! Maybe I'll try it with chicken??
These look fantastic and so perfect for warm weather. Yum–I love everything about them!
🙂
My daughter and I love lettuce wraps – she'll keep the onions, but I'll pass on them.
Looks terrific!
Found you through FoodBuzz project foodie 😀
man, these look amazing. i am drooling over the pictures right now! as soon as i am able to open my jaw wide enough again, i am making these babies!
What kind of noodles did you serve these with because they look delish too!