Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Crisp lettuce cups with seasoned beef, cashews, and fresh vegetables.

# 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 (optional, for heat)

→ 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 (if using). 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite delivers that perfect crunch that makes your brain light up with satisfaction
  • The assembly line style means everyone gets to customize their own cups at the table
  • Clean up is practically non existent since you are eating your dishware
02 -
  • Overcooking the vegetables makes them soggy and they will weep moisture into your cups
  • Draining the beef fat before adding the sauces prevents the mixture from becoming too oily to stay in the lettuce
03 -
  • Use a paper towel to pat the lettuce leaves completely dry before filling them
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly so it does not wilt the lettuce too quickly

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