Easy Weeknight Meal: Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ready for something really tasty? Yep, I know I have lots of tasty temptations posted here on my blog and I have another to share with you now. How about some Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps for dinner? Yes, please. Using a lettuce leaf to wrap like a burrito, you eat fewer calories, get some greens in (yay) and eat a nice nutritious meal without breaking the bank. And, the contrast of the warm chicken to the cold crisp lettuce leaf is pretty amazing. I also think the kids would find it fun to wrap "salad" around their food.

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
5 large white mushrooms, chopped
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1//2-1 inch cubes
1 large clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
3/4 cup green onions, sliced
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey
8 large lettuce leaves
chopped red pepper to garnish

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Directions
This is so simple! Heat olive oil in a large, deep non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or until tender. Remove and set aside

Add chicken, garlic and ginger to skillet and cook until chicken is brown on both sides and cooked through. I use a meat thermometer to check. Add green onions and heat through. Add the mushrooms back into the pan.

In a small bowl, mix the sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey and crushed red pepper. Add to the skillet and heat through.

Divide the chicken mixture evenly between each lettuce leaf and garnish with the red pepper.

I served it with a stir fry of fresh green beans, sliced red peppers and bean noodles. I stir-fried it using a small amount of olive oil, sesame oil and soy sauce (to taste), giving it a hint of Asian flavor while not being overly salty. I threw in some crushed red pepper for some added kick. Doesn't this look delicious?

What a nice light dish to serve on the patio!!  I had some iced jasmine tea to drink with it. Ahhhh!!!  Refreshing!! Next time you have the urge to dial your local Asian take out restaurant, give this recipe a try. It's easy, light and full of flavor and color.

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