Oriental Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce

Oriental Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce

By: Rachael Tanis

Adapted from: Tasty Kitchen

Lettuce wraps: 

4 3-once packagesOriental Ramen Noodles with seasoning packets
6 cups water
1 whole cucumber, seeded and cut into thin strips
2 cups matchstick carrots
1 cup green onions, sliced
3 bell peppers (yellow, orange and red)
2 cups seasoned, cooked chicken, roughly chopped
4 teaspoons sesame oil
4 Tablespoons soy sauce
1-inch long piece ginger root, pressed or peeled and finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Lettuce (Butter, Boston, or Leaf lettuce), separated into leaves

In a large pot, cook ramen noodles (including the seasoning packet) in the water, breaking each packet of ramen into small pieces. Do not follow instructions on package. Instead, cook with the seasonings until al dente. Then drain and rinse with cold water.

Prepare the cucumber and set aside for later. Slice the green onions. Slice the tops and bottoms off the bell peppers and chop. Cut the remaining pepper (the middles) into thin strips and refrigerate until serving time.

Place the noodles, chicken, chopped bell pepper (remember, tops and bottoms only) and green onions in a large bowl. Stir to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper. Pour over the noodle mixture and stir to coat. Refrigerate until serving time.

Thoroughly wash the lettuce leaves, being careful not to tear, and pat them dry.

To serve, fill individual lettuce leaves with the noodle mixture and top with the cucumber, pepper strips and carrot shreds. Drizzle with the spicy sweet and sour sauce (recipe follows).

Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce:

3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce

1 Tablespoon ketchup
2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 Marx Foods dried Puya chile, chopped into very small pieces

Place the sugar, vinegar, water, soy sauce, ketchup, cornstarch and chile (with seeds) in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Stir continuously until the mixture has thickened.