Lettuce Cups/ Lettuce Wraps

EVENT: FOODIES_ REDOING OLD POSTS #49

RECIPE: LETTUCE CUPS/ LETTUCE WRAPS

What are Lettuce Cups/ Lettuce Wraps?

Fresh, crunchy, sweet, just enough saltiness, tangy, a wee bit chilli, aromatic. Wondering if I am practising my adjectives? Well, you would too if you had these delicious lettuce cups/ lettuce wraps. Lettuce Cups/ Lettuce Wraps is a great recipe when entertaining. Guests can build up their own lettuce cups or wraps with different fillings.

Basically, lettuce leaves are served topped with a dry filling and served with sauces. The lettuce cups or wraps make a healthier option to sandwiches with bread. However, initially they were served as a starter or appetizer mostly at Chinese Restaurants. These days lettuce cups or wraps have taken on different avatars. One can have a vegetarian or non vegetarian filling from any cuisine. They are served as a starter, appetizer, finger food or even as a healthy light meal option.

My First Experience

The first time I ever had lettuce cups was at a Chinese Restaurant in London. When the huge iceberg salad leaves were placed in front of me with the vegetarian filling of oyster mushrooms, I had no idea how to eat it! Luckily, my sister in law showed me and also made me comfortable by saying ‘let those fingers get all sticky with the sauces’. I thoroughly enjoyed the started and knew that I had to make this at home. We don’t lettuce cups or wraps at the Chinese Restaurant in Mombasa.

Goodness in Crunchy Leaves

Since I first made them at home, using basic ingredients like carrots, cucumber, onions, etc, I’ve tried so many different fillings. Lettuce Cups/ Lettuce Wraps make an excellent finger food to enjoy on TV nights. Sometimes, for hubby I’ve ordered chicken tikka and used that along with some salad ingredients.

Some Filling Ideas:

While my favorite is still making a light salad with corn, cucumber, carrot, cashew nuts , sesame seeds, etc and enjoying with a Chilli Honey Sauce or Dip and Chilli Sauce, there are so many other fillings you can use.

• Make a dry tandoori like tandoori paneer, tandoori boneless chicken, tandoori mushrooms. Cut it up into smaller pieces. Serve with a mint yogurt dip. Mix the tandoori ingredients with chopped onion, cucumber, tomatoes, etc.
• Have you tried a Chili Bean filling served with guacamole and simple tomato salsa?
• How about chopped up falafel served with some hummus and salad of onion, tomato, olives and cucumber.
• Use up leftover meat, fish, fritters, etc and serve with lettuce cups or wraps.
• Use leftover rice to make a salad, serve with a chutney or dip.
• Make small koftas. Use as a filling along with chopped salad. Serve with chutney.
• Use roasted sweet potato, or potatoes with avocado, tomato, onion, etc. Serve with a light salad dressing.

Let your imagination run riot and make a filling of your choice. Serve with dips, sauces or chutneys.