Let's bring restaurant-style dining to your own kitchen with these P.F. Chang's inspired chicken lettuce wraps. These wraps are light yet filling, with the crunch of water chestnuts and straw mushrooms beautifully complementing the tender ground chicken. The mix of Asian sauces lends a complex flavor profile, while the iceberg lettuce keeps things refreshing. Ready in 30 minutes, it's a delicious and healthy meal that everyone will love.
Photos of P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
If you're not familiar with some of the ingredients like straw mushrooms and water chestnuts, don't worry. These can typically be found canned in the international aisle of your supermarket, or if you have access to an Asian grocery store, you should be able to find them there. Mirin, a sweet rice wine, and oyster sauce are also commonly found in the Asian food section. If you can't find chili oil, you can substitute with red pepper flakes.
P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps Ingredients
Vegetable oil: Used for sautéing the chicken and vegetables.
Ground chicken: The main protein in this dish.
Water chestnuts: Adds a nice crunch to the wraps.
Straw mushrooms: Provides an earthy flavor.
Garlic: Adds a robust, savory flavor.
Scallion stalks: Brings a mild onion flavor to the dish.
Soy sauce: Gives the dish its savory, umami flavor.
Mirin: A sweet rice wine that adds a bit of sweetness.
Oyster sauce: Provides a rich, savory flavor.
Rice vinegar: Adds a tangy note to balance the flavors.
Iceberg lettuce: Serves as the wrap, adding a refreshing crunch.
One reader, Janice Hendrick says:
The P.F. Chang's inspired chicken lettuce wraps recipe is a game-changer! The flavors are so vibrant and the dish is incredibly satisfying. It's a hit every time I make it for friends and family. The dipping sauce is the perfect finishing touch. I highly recommend trying it out!
Essential Techniques for Crafting Delicious Chicken Lettuce Wraps
How to make the dipping sauce: Combine granulated sugar, water, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil, chives, Chinese hot mustard, and sriracha in a small bowl and whisk until fully combined.
How to brown the chicken: In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoons of oil and brown the ground chicken over medium-high heat.
How to sauté the vegetables: After removing the browned chicken, add the remaining oil to the skillet and sauté the water chestnuts, straw mushrooms, garlic, and scallions for 3 to 5 minutes.
How to combine the ingredients: Add the browned chicken back into the skillet along with soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir to coat and combine everything.
How to serve: Serve the chicken mixture in lettuce cups and top or dip into the dipping sauce as desired.
How To Make P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Get those Sriracha, soy sauce, and vinegar ready for a flavorful Southeast Asian sauce that goes well with chicken lettuce wraps just like P.F. Chang’s.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Dipping Sauce:
- 2tbspgranulated sugar
- ½cupwater
- 3tbspsoy saucereduced sodium
- 1tbsprice vinegar
- ⅛tspchili oil
- 1tbspchiveschopped
- ¼tspChinese hot mustard
- 1tspSriracha
For Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
- 4tbspVegetable Oil
- 1lbground chicken
- 8ozwater chestnutsdrained and minced
- 6ozstraw mushroomsdrained and minced
- 1clovegarlicminced
- 2scallion stalkschopped
- 3tbspsoy sauce
- 2tbspmirin
- 2tbspoyster sauce
- 1tbsprice vinegar
- 5cupsiceberg lettuce
Instructions
-
To make the dipping sauce, add the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until fully combined.
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In a large skillet add 2 tablespoons of oil and brown the chicken in it on medium-high heat.
-
Remove chicken after browning, add in the rest of the oil and sauté the water chestnuts, straw mushrooms, garlic, and scallions for 3 to 5 minutes.
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Add the chicken back into the skillet along with the soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, and rice vinegar and stir to coat and combine everything.
-
Serve in lettuce cups and top or dip into the dipping sauce as desired.
Nutrition
- Calories: 424.89kcal
- Fat: 23.99g
- Saturated Fat: 3.63g
- Trans Fat: 0.18g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 14.31g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.43g
- Carbohydrates: 27.90g
- Fiber: 4.31g
- Sugar: 11.03g
- Protein: 25.34g
- Cholesterol: 97.52mg
- Sodium: 1818.90mg
- Calcium: 53.70mg
- Potassium: 1220.88mg
- Iron: 2.46mg
- Vitamin A: 27.90µg
- Vitamin C: 6.88mg
One Simple Technique for Elevating Your Chicken Lettuce Wrap Game
When browning the ground chicken, make sure to break it up into small, even pieces. This will not only ensure that the chicken cooks evenly, but also that it will easily mix with the other ingredients and absorb the flavors of the sauces. Additionally, when sautéing the water chestnuts, straw mushrooms, garlic, and scallions, don't rush the process. Allow them to cook slowly to bring out their natural flavors and create a more complex taste profile in your chicken lettuce wraps.
Time-Saving Tips for Making P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep ahead: Chop and prepare all the ingredients in advance to streamline the cooking process.
One-pan cooking: Opt for recipes that allow you to cook everything in one pan to minimize cleanup time.
Batch cooking: Make a larger portion of the recipe and store the extra for quick and easy meals later in the week.
Pre-washed produce: Use pre-washed and pre-cut vegetables to save time on prep work.
Kitchen organization: Keep your kitchen organized to easily locate ingredients and utensils while cooking.
Efficient multitasking: Plan your cooking process to efficiently multitask and save time in the kitchen.
Pre-measured ingredients: Measure out all the ingredients beforehand to avoid stopping to measure during cooking.
Quick cleanup: Clean as you go to minimize the post-cooking cleanup time.
Substitute Ingredients For P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
- granulated sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey can add a natural sweetness and a unique flavor to the dipping sauce.
- soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and has a similar rich umami flavor.
- rice vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can provide a slightly fruity and tangy flavor similar to rice vinegar.
- chili oil - Substitute with sriracha: Sriracha can add heat and a hint of garlic flavor to the dipping sauce.
- chives - Substitute with green onions: Green onions can provide a mild onion flavor and a similar visual appeal to chives.
- chinese hot mustard - Substitute with dijon mustard: Dijon mustard can add a tangy and slightly spicy flavor to the dipping sauce.
- sriracha - Substitute with chili garlic sauce: Chili garlic sauce can provide a similar level of heat and a garlicky flavor to the dipping sauce.
- vegetable oil - Substitute with peanut oil: Peanut oil can add a nutty flavor and withstand high heat, similar to vegetable oil.
- ground chicken - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey can provide a lean and slightly gamey flavor similar to ground chicken.
- water chestnuts - Substitute with jicama: Jicama can offer a similar crunchy texture and mild sweetness to water chestnuts.
- straw mushrooms - Substitute with shiitake mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms can provide a meaty texture and a rich umami flavor similar to straw mushrooms.
- scallion stalks - Substitute with leeks: Leeks can offer a mild onion flavor and a similar appearance to scallions.
- mirin - Substitute with dry sherry: Dry sherry can provide a sweet and slightly acidic flavor similar to mirin.
- oyster sauce - Substitute with hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce can add a sweet and savory flavor similar to oyster sauce.
- iceberg lettuce - Substitute with butter lettuce: Butter lettuce can provide a similar crisp and refreshing base for the lettuce wraps.
How to Beautifully Present Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Elevate the lettuce wraps: Arrange the lettuce wraps on a sleek, minimalist plate, ensuring they are neatly presented and visually appealing.
Artful dipping sauce placement: Use a small, elegant dipping bowl to present the sauce, placing it strategically on the plate to create a balanced and visually appealing presentation.
Garnish with precision: Carefully garnish the lettuce wraps with finely chopped chives, adding a pop of color and a touch of sophistication to the dish.
Incorporate texture: Introduce a contrasting element by sprinkling crispy fried shallots on top of the lettuce wraps, adding a delightful crunch to each bite.
Balance and symmetry: Arrange the lettuce wraps in a symmetrical pattern on the plate, ensuring that each component is thoughtfully placed for a visually harmonious presentation.
Elevate with edible flowers: Introduce a touch of elegance by delicately placing edible flowers around the plate, adding a subtle yet luxurious touch to the overall presentation.
Use elegant plating techniques: Employ meticulous plating techniques, such as using tweezers to position each component with precision, ensuring a refined and polished final presentation.
Highlight the vibrant colors: Emphasize the vibrant colors of the dish by using a contrasting plate, allowing the fresh green lettuce and colorful filling to stand out and captivate the senses.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Cutting board: A flat surface used for cutting and preparing ingredients.
- Chef's knife: A versatile knife used for chopping, slicing, and dicing ingredients.
- Skillet: A frying pan with a flat bottom and sloping sides used for sautéing and frying.
- Wooden spoon: A kitchen utensil with a long handle and a rounded end, used for stirring and mixing ingredients.
- Mixing bowl: A bowl used for combining ingredients and mixing batters or dough.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Utensils used to measure precise amounts of ingredients for recipes.
- Tongs: Kitchen utensils with two arms and a pivot used for picking up and manipulating food.
- Spatula: A flat, flexible utensil used for lifting, flipping, and spreading ingredients.
- Food processor: A kitchen appliance used for chopping, blending, and pureeing ingredients.
- Grater: A kitchen tool used to grate or shred ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, or citrus zest.
- Strainer: A perforated bowl-shaped sieve used for draining liquids or straining solids from liquids.
- Whisk: A utensil with wire loops used for beating, whipping, and blending ingredients.
- Garlic press: A tool used to crush and mince garlic cloves.
- Pastry brush: A kitchen tool with bristles used for applying sauces, glazes, or butter to food.
- Baking sheet: A flat, rectangular metal pan used for baking and roasting in the oven.
- Rolling pin: A cylindrical tool used to flatten and shape dough for baking.
- Mandoline: A kitchen tool used for slicing and cutting fruits and vegetables with precision.
- Grill: A cooking appliance used for grilling and barbecuing food over an open flame or heat source.
The Ultimate Guide to Storing and Freezing P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
To store leftover chicken lettuce wraps, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Keep the lettuce cups separate from the filling to prevent them from getting soggy.
If you want to freeze the chicken filling for later use, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. The filling can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
When ready to enjoy the frozen chicken filling, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat the filling in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it's heated through. You may need to add a splash of water or chicken broth to help rehydrate the filling if it appears dry.
It's not recommended to freeze the lettuce cups as they will become limp and lose their crisp texture once thawed. Always use fresh, crisp lettuce leaves when assembling the wraps.
If you have leftover dipping sauce, store it in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Give it a good stir before using, as some ingredients may settle over time.
The Best Methods for Reheating Leftover Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Reheat the chicken mixture in a skillet over medium heat until it's heated through, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. This method will help maintain the texture and flavor of the chicken while ensuring it's evenly heated. Once hot, spoon the mixture into fresh lettuce cups and serve with the dipping sauce.
If you prefer a quicker method, place the chicken mixture in a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the mixture is heated through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can cause the chicken to become dry and tough. Serve in fresh lettuce cups with the dipping sauce.
For a crispy texture, spread the leftover chicken mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the sheet in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through and slightly crispy on top. Stir the mixture halfway through the reheating process to ensure even heating. Serve in fresh lettuce cups with the dipping sauce.
If you have a bit more time, you can also reheat the chicken mixture in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of oil to the pan and stir-fry the mixture for 3-5 minutes, or until it's heated through and slightly crispy. This method will help restore some of the texture lost during refrigeration. Serve in fresh lettuce cups with the dipping sauce.
Surprising Facts About Chicken Lettuce Wraps You Might Not Know
P.F. Chang's is an American restaurant chain known for its Asian-inspired dishes, including the famous chicken lettuce wraps.
Budgeting for Homemade P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
The cost-effectiveness of this chicken lettuce wraps recipe is quite favorable for a household. The use of ground chicken, water chestnuts, and straw mushrooms provides a balance of cost and nutrition. The recipe's versatility allows for easy adaptation to suit varying budgets. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $20, making it an affordable and satisfying meal. Overall Verdict: 9.
Are Chicken Lettuce Wraps Healthy or Unhealthy?
The P.F. Chang's inspired chicken lettuce wraps recipe is a flavorful dish, but it may not be the healthiest option due to some of its ingredients and cooking methods. Here's an analysis of the recipe:
- The recipe uses ground chicken, which is a lean protein source. However, the chicken is browned in vegetable oil, adding extra fat and calories to the dish.
- Water chestnuts and straw mushrooms are low in calories and provide some fiber, but they are not particularly nutrient-dense.
- The dipping sauce contains sugar, which adds empty calories to the dish. Additionally, the sauce includes soy sauce, which is high in sodium.
- The recipe calls for oyster sauce, which is also high in sodium and may contain MSG.
- Iceberg lettuce is used as the wrap, which is low in nutrients compared to other leafy greens like romaine or butter lettuce.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Use a minimal amount of oil when browning the chicken, or opt for a healthier cooking method like grilling or baking.
- Replace some of the vegetable oil with a healthier option like olive oil or avocado oil.
- Reduce the amount of sugar in the dipping sauce or use a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the overall sodium content of the dish.
- Incorporate more nutrient-dense vegetables into the filling, such as carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- Swap iceberg lettuce for more nutritious leafy greens like romaine, butter lettuce, or even collard greens.
- Serve the lettuce wraps with a side of brown rice or quinoa to add more fiber and complex carbohydrates to the meal.
Our Editor's Honest Opinion on P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
The P.F. Chang's inspired chicken lettuce wraps recipe is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The dipping sauce adds a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy elements, elevating the dish. The use of water chestnuts and straw mushrooms provides a satisfying crunch, while the ground chicken absorbs the rich umami flavors of soy sauce and oyster sauce. The refreshing crunch of iceberg lettuce cups completes the dish, making it a light and satisfying meal. Overall, this recipe offers a wonderful blend of Asian-inspired flavors and is sure to impress anyone who tries it.
Enhance Your P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Delicious Alternatives to P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Appetizers and Desserts That Complement P.F. Chang's Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Why trust this P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe:
This recipe offers an authentic P.F. Chang's inspired experience, featuring a well-balanced blend of Asian flavors and fresh ingredients. The dipping sauce, with its harmonious mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil, adds a delightful kick to the dish. The use of ground chicken and water chestnuts ensures a satisfying texture, while the crisp iceberg lettuce cups provide a refreshing contrast. With attention to detail and a focus on traditional Asian cuisine, this recipe promises a trustworthy and enjoyable dining experience.
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