Beef Lettuce Wraps Peanuts (Print Version)

Savory ground beef with aromatic spices in crisp lettuce leaves topped with crunchy peanuts for a fresh bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
05 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 small carrot, julienned
08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Assembly & Toppings

14 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and rinsed
15 - 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
17 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How to Cook:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
02 - Incorporate garlic, ginger, and green onions; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced red bell pepper and julienned carrot; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened.
04 - Stir in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to meld flavors and thicken sauce.
05 - Take skillet off the heat and prepare for assembly.
06 - Fill each lettuce leaf with the beef mixture. Top with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 35 minutes flat, which means you can go from "what's for dinner" to actual dinner without stress.
  • The beef gets seasoned with enough depth that it tastes like you spent hours on it, but you didn't.
  • Eating with your hands never felt this elegant—it's casual food that somehow feels special.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the pan when browning the beef—if you do, it steams instead of searing and you lose that deep caramelized flavor.
  • The lettuce leaves need to be cold and crisp, so keep them in the fridge until the last second and they'll hold everything better.
03 -
  • If your beef mixture seems too wet, drain some of the liquid before adding the sauce ingredients—the sauce should coat the meat, not drown it.
  • Chop your peanuts by hand if you can instead of using a food processor; whole pieces with some texture are more satisfying than powder.

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