How To Make Curry-Scented Grilled Beef Lettuce Wraps
These satisfying beef lettuce wraps are packed with curried meat and tender rice noodles. They’re paired with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Beef Patties:
- ⅓cupunsalted roasted peanuts,or cashews, finely chopped, brimming
- 3medium green onions,white and green parts, finely chopped
- 1tbspMadras-style curry powder,preferably Sun brand
- ¾tsprecently ground black pepper
- 3tbspwater
- 1tbspoyster sauce,brimming
- 1tbspfish sauce
- 1½lbsground beef,(about 85 percent lean)
For Nuoc Cham:
- 2½tbspsugar,or 3 to 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 4tbspfresh lime juice
- ½cupwarm water,or as needed
- 2tspjapanese rice vinegar,unseasoned, optional
- 4tbspfish sauce
- 2orThai or serrano chiles,thinly sliced and seeds intact, or 2 to 3 tsp chile garlic sauce, or sambal oelek, optional
- 1largegarlic clove,minced, optional
- ½smallcarrot,cut into thin matchsticks or coarsely grated, optional
For Curried Beef Lettuce Wraps:
- 6ozsmall dried round rice noodles,(maifun) or 8 oz dried rice capellini or thin spaghetti
- leaves from 1 head of soft-leaf lettuce,such as butter, Boston, or red or green leaf
- 8bushy sprigs fresh mint,or basil
- 12sprigs fresh cilantro
Optional Add Ins:
- 2orThai or serrano chiles,thinly sliced and seeds intact, or 2 to 3 tsp chile garlic sauce or sambal oelek, optional
- 1largegarlic clove,minced
- ½smallcarrot,cut into thin matchsticks or coarsely grated
Instructions
-
Form the patties:
Patties:
-
In a medium bowl, combine the chopped peanuts, green onions, curry powder, black pepper, water, oyster sauce, and fish sauce.
-
Add the beef and mix with fingers. (If not cooking right away, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.) Form into 24 patties, each a good 2 inches wide and ½ inch thick. Set aside.
Nuoc Cham:
-
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the sugar (or 3 tablespoons of the maple syrup), 3 tablespoons of the lime juice, and the water.
-
Taste the limeade and, if needed, add the remaining 1 ½ teaspoons sugar (or 1 tablespoon maple syrup) and/or 1 tablespoon lime juice.
-
Dilute with water if needed. If there’s an unpleasant tart-bitter edge, add the vinegar to fix the flavor.
-
Add the fish sauce to the bowl depending on the brand and taste. Aim for a bold, forward finish that’s a little gutsy. (Keep in mind that this sauce typically dresses dishes that include unsalted ingredients such as lettuce and herbs which will need an extra flavor lift.)
-
If desired, add the chiles, garlic, and/or carrot. The sauce can sit at room temperature for up to 8 hours until serving.
Noodles:
-
Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil, add the noodles, and return to a boil. Cook until tender-chewy (package instructions are often not helpful, so test a strand—this can take anywhere between 2 and 8 minutes).
-
Drain, rinse with water, drain again, and let cool for 5 minutes.
-
Since the noodles are unwieldy, arrange them as 2-inch nests on a plate or in a shallow bowl. Set at the table with the dipping sauce, lettuce, and fresh herbs.
To Serve:
-
Lightly oil a cast-iron stove-top grill pan (or lightly film a heavy skillet with oil) and set over medium-high heat.
-
In batches, add the beef and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turning midway, until medium to medium-well done. (These are usually not eaten medium-rare, but cook for less time, if desired.) Transfer to a platter and let cool for a few minutes.
-
Build lettuce wraps with herbs, noodles, and beef. For easier eating, break or cut each patty into a few bite-size pieces.
-
Set the sauce at the table or portion it out in small bowls in advance of serving. Dunk in the sauce and eat.
Nutrition
- Calories: 733.34kcal
- Fat: 40.81g
- Saturated Fat: 13.82g
- Trans Fat: 2.01g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 18.27g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.04g
- Carbohydrates: 53.16g
- Fiber: 5.45g
- Sugar: 10.77g
- Protein: 37.96g
- Cholesterol: 120.77mg
- Sodium: 2105.89mg
- Calcium: 143.37mg
- Potassium: 918.14mg
- Iron: 7.88mg
- Vitamin A: 198.06µg
- Vitamin C: 16.14mg
Was this page helpful?
Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
Related Recipes
