Beef Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable)
Tender beef and cashew filling in crisp lettuce cups with Asian-inspired flavors
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Beef Filling
01 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
02 - 1 lb lean ground beef
03 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely diced
05 - 1 medium carrot, finely diced
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts, roughly chopped
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ For the Sauce
09 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
10 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
11 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
12 - 1 tsp sesame oil
13 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 tsp brown sugar
15 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
→ For Serving
16 - 1 large head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
18 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and just cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes.
02 - Add the garlic, onion, carrot, and red bell pepper. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
03 - Add the cashew nuts and spring onions, stirring to combine evenly with the beef mixture.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, ginger, brown sugar, and chili flakes. Pour the sauce into the beef mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until heated through and fragrant.
05 - Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Spoon the beef-cashew mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The contrast between warm savory beef and cool crisp lettuce makes every bite exciting
- Everything happens in one pan so cleanup is ridiculously simple
02 -
- Drain any excess fat from the beef before adding vegetables or your lettuce cups will be soggy
- Butter lettuce holds more filling than iceberg and feels more elegant
03 -
- Keep the components separate until serving to prevent the lettuce from wilting
- Double the sauce recipe if you love things extra saucy