Main Dishes

February 29, 2024

Yuzu Ponzu Chicken Lettuce Cups

Indulge in these savory and satisfying yuzu ponzu chicken lettuce cups. They are quick, easy, and utterly irresistible! Ideal for a nutritious weeknight dinner, they're also perfect for entertaining or meal prepping. Dive into mouth watering flavor without sacrificing convenience!

Whenever I spot lettuce cups on a restaurant menu, I'm instantly drawn to them! There's just something so satisfying about the savory filling, crisp lettuce, and all the delicious fixings that come with it. Since I find myself ordering them quite often, I figured it was time to create my own recipe that brings that same restaurant-quality taste right to my kitchen. Get ready to experience the joy of homemade lettuce cups that are every bit as delicious, if not better, than what you'd find at your favorite eatery!

Now, you might be wondering:

What exactly is Yuzu Ponzu?

Yuzu Ponzu is a Japanese soy sauce infused with citrus flavors. Combining the savory notes of soy sauce with hints of citrus, it offers a delightful tangy and slightly sweet taste. This versatile ingredient adds a unique touch to Asian cuisine and is truly a hidden gem worth exploring further. Its sweet and savory flavor profile makes it an essential element in this recipe—one that I personally adore.

Here's how to serve your Yuzu Ponzu Chicken Lettuce Cups:

  • Lettuce: I enjoy using a combination of little gem romaine and butter lettuce leaves. The little gem provides a sturdy base, while the butter lettuce offers a lighter texture. I love mixing and matching both for a variety of flavors and textures.
  • White Rice: Don't underestimate the power of adding steamed white rice to each lettuce cup. It's surprisingly versatile, offering a neutral base that enhances the savory filling and sauces, adding extra texture to each bite. Trust me, it's a game changer worth trying!
  • Green Onion: Add chopped green onions for a burst of earthy, herby flavor that complements the dish perfectly.
  • Sesame Seeds: Sprinkle sesame seeds over your lettuce cups for a touch of nutty flavor and a visually appealing finish. It's a simple addition that adds an extra layer of deliciousness to your dish.
  • Sweet Chili Sauce or Sriracha Sauce: Whether you prefer a sweet kick or a spicy punch, both sweet chili sauce and sriracha are excellent choices that complement the flavors of the dish. Feel free to experiment with both to find your perfect balance of sweet and heat!

One of my preferred methods for preparing the filling is in my trusty wok. However, if you don't have one, don't worry! You can easily use a regular pan instead.

Yet, here's why I particularly enjoy using my wok for cooking Asian-inspired dishes like this:

  • The wok's unique design offers several advantages. Its rounded shape and deep, sloping walls allow for efficient cooking with less oil. It concentrates heat at the bottom of the pan while providing the flexibility to move food away from the heat source as needed.
  • While a wok isn't essential in every kitchen, it's certainly a versatile and beloved tool in mine. Beyond stir-frying, it's capable of steaming, deep-frying, braising, and more.
  • Due to its efficient heating, food tends to cook a bit faster in a wok. However, it's essential to remain vigilant as ingredients can burn easily if left unattended. Additionally, the concentrated cooking area in the center of the wok can lead to overcrowding, so it's important to avoid overloading the pan for optimal results.

Did you make this? If so, make sure to tag and follow @prettyplatebymichelle on instagram and tiktok or leave a comment below and let me know what you think! I would love to see your Pretty Plate and hear from you!

Yuzu Ponzu Chicken Lettuce Cups

Indulge in these savory and satisfying yuzu ponzu lettuce cups. They are quick, easy, and utterly irresistible! Ideal for a nutritious weeknight dinner, they're also perfect for entertaining or meal prepping.

Prep:
25
min
cook:
30
min
total:
55
min
Author:

Michelle

Ingredients

For the Filling:

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup carrots, diced
  • 1/2 cup Diced water chestnuts
  • 1/2 cup diced shiitake or baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 TBSP green onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
  • 1/2 TSP ginger, minced

For the Sauce: 

  • 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1 TBSP low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 TBSP rice vinegar
  • 1/4 TSP sesame oil
  • 3-4 TBSP yuzu ponzu sauce
  • 1/4 TSP red chili flakes

For Serving: 

  • Little gem romaine lettuce
  • Butter lettuce
  • Sesame seeds
  • Steamed white rice
  • Green onion
  • Sweet chili sauce or sriracha
Instructions
  1. Start by making the sauce. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Set aside.
  2. OPTIONAL: if you are adding steamed white rice to your lettuce cups, make the white rice now according to it’s package. If not, skip to the next step.
  3. Heat a medium size pan over medium heat. Add ½ TBSP olive oil and swirl around your pan or wok to coat. Once the pan and oil are heated, add your ground chicken and cook until no longer pink for about 3-5 minutes. Break apart and sprinkle with some salt and pepper.
  4. When done, drain the fat, but keep the meat in the pan. In the same pan with the meat, add your garlic, yellow onion and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and well combined.
  5. Add your carrots, water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms and green onions. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Mixing often and scraping up the bottom of the pan.
  6. Slowly pour over your sauce into the pan and stir to combine well. Once boiling, bring heat to low and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce becomes thicker and the filling is fully coated in the sauce. When done, remove from heat.
  7. To assemble the platter: place the butter lettuce and romaine lettuce leaves on a platter layered and spread out evenly. Yea after your white rice from the rice cooker to a bowl and add to the platter. Place sesame seeds and green onion in two separate mini bowls and place the sweet chili sauce and chili garlic sauce in separate bowls. Add those bowls to the platter.
  8. To make a lettuce cup: pick your green cup of choice, add some white rice, top it with the ground Turkey mixture, garnish with sesame seeds and/or green onion and drizzle with your sauce of choice.
  9. ENJOY!
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Cynthia
October 9, 2023
The ingredient list is missing lemon slices, shallot and garlic.
Michael
July 5, 2023
Can I do this in a slow cooker instead of the oven?
Kevin
October 19, 2021
So delicious!