Description
This Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe offers a flavorful and healthy twist on traditional wraps, featuring tender chicken cooked in a savory hoisin-ginger sauce with crunchy cashews. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, these wraps balance sweet, spicy, and nutty flavors served in crisp lettuce cups.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Additional Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil or substitute canola oil
- 1–2 teaspoons Sriracha hot sauce, to taste
- 3/4 cup unsalted cashews
- 1 head green leafy lettuce (romaine, bibb, or butter lettuce)
- 5 green onions, chopped, divided
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season the cut chicken pieces evenly with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor of the meat.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, low-sodium soy sauce, freshly grated ginger, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch. Stir well until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, creating a smooth sauce base.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes until fully cooked through. Add the minced garlic and sauté briefly to release its aroma without burning.
- Add the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and pour in the prepared sauce. Stir continuously and cook until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly. Add Sriracha hot sauce according to your preferred spice level. Finally, stir in the unsalted cashews and most of the chopped green onions, reserving a few for garnish.
- Serve: Spoon the chicken mixture into individual lettuce leaves, creating wraps. Top with the remaining chopped green onions for a fresh, crunchy finish. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce and chicken broth to control salt content.
- Substitute cashews with toasted peanuts for a different nutty flavor.
- Adjust the amount of Sriracha to suit your heat preference.
- Butter or bibb lettuce works best for wrapping due to their pliability.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure that the soy sauce is gluten-free.
