These easy Pork Lettuce Wraps are meaty, savory, and tasty low-carb meal that truly hits the spot. A simple blend of seasonings along with miso paste infuses so much flavor into the meat. Serve it up in tender lettuce leaves topped with a crisp blend of radish and carrot for an added burst of flavor.
½cupunseasoned rice vinegaror other - white vinegar, apple cider vinegar
1Tablespoonmaple syrup or other sweetener of choice
¼teaspoonsalt
Hot water - enough to cover - about 1-2 cups boiling water
For the Miso Pork:
½cupsliced green onionreserve some of the green parts for topping, if desired
2tablespoonsgrated gingerfresh ginger, frozen, then grated from frozen; alternatively, use ½ teaspoon dried powdered ginger
2clovesgarlicminced
1poundground pork
2teaspoonsoy sauce or tamari
2teaspoonssesame oil
2Tablespoonsmiso pastered or white
1teaspoonred pepper flakesmore if you like a lot of heat
16pieceslettuce wraps or cups
Optional: serve with rice or vermicelli rice noodles
Instructions
For the quick-pickled vegetables: Shred the carrot and daikon and place in a large jar. (The wider, the better.) Shove the vegetables down into the jar until they’re tightly packed.
Add the rice vinegar, sweetener, and salt, then cover with boiling water. (They don’t have to be fully submerged, but mostly covered.) Close the jar and let sit for 30 minutes (ish) at room temperature.
For the miso meat: mix together the meat, ginger, garlic, miso paste, red pepper flakes, and the white parts of the green onion in a large bowl.Alternatively, you can just mix everything together in the pan if you'd like, but mixing the meat and seasonings ahead provides more even flavor.
Heat a pan to medium-high heat and add the meat mixture in a single patty. DO NOT STIR. Let it fully brown on one side, which should take about 3-5 minutes. Then break it apart with a spatula and cook thoroughly. Remove from heat. If it is very greasy, drain the grease or remove to a paper-towel-lined plate to cool.
Wash the lettuce cups and pat them dry. And optionally, prepare vermicelli noodles or rice to serve with the lettuce wraps.
To prepare: fill each lettuce cup with a few tablespoons of the meat mixture and top with the quick-pickled vegetables. Enjoy!
Notes
The nutrition label does not include rice or vermicelli rice noodles. The label is, as always, just an estimate. I recommend serving this while the meat is warm or at room temperature. If it is very hot, the lettuce will wilt, but if the meat is super cold straight from the fridge, it doesn’t have the best texture.You're gonna love them!