Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable Version)

Savory beef and cashew filling in crisp lettuce cups - fresh, crunchy, and ready in 30 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried

→ Nuts

07 - ½ cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped

→ Sauces & Condiments

08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
11 - 1 tsp sesame oil
12 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 1 tsp chili sauce

→ Garnishes

14 - Fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
15 - Lime wedges

# How-To:

01 - Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the garlic and ginger to the pan; stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the carrot, bell pepper, and half of the spring onions. Cook for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
04 - Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce. Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
05 - Stir in the cashews and cook for 1 minute, just to warm them through.
06 - Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
07 - To serve, spoon the beef mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with remaining spring onions and fresh coriander. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The warm, spiced beef against cool, crisp lettuce is the kind of texture contrast that makes people pause and take notice
  • Everything comes together in one pan, meaning you spend more time eating and less time washing up
  • These disappear from platters faster than anything else I serve, making them perfect for feeding a crowd
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of separating and drying the lettuce leaves completely, as water on the leaves makes everything soggy within minutes
  • The beef mixture reheats beautifully, but the lettuce must stay crisp until the moment you're ready to serve
03 -
  • Toast the cashews in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them to the beef for next-level flavor
  • If your lettuce leaves seem flimsy, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes to perk them up completely

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