Thai-Style Minced Chicken Lettuce Cups

As you can see from the photo, the recipe is inexpensive to make with ingredients found at your local supermarket. One of the key ingredients is fish sauce. Contrary to what you might expect, it doesn’t add a “fishy” taste, but rather a salty, savory, umami flavor. If you’ve never cooked with it, I’ll warn you that it smells pretty bad (my kids RUN out of the kitchen when I use it), but please don’t let that deter you — it absolutely makes the dish! If possible, buy a brand imported from Thailand or Vietnam, and don’t worry about buying a large bottle; it keeps forever.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For the chicken, begin by cooking the onions and ginger in oil until soft.

Add the minced garlic and cook one minute more.

Add the ground chicken and use a wooden spoon to break the meat apart.

Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, lime zest, lime juice, brown sugar and red pepper flakes, and cook until the chicken is done.

Off the heat, add the fresh cilantro, mint, scallions, and nuts.

Stir to combine.

Spoon into lettuce cups and serve with finely sliced carrots, herbs and Sriracha sauce.