Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Thai Style + Video}

Name: Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1465 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds ground chicken (minced); 3 tbsp lemongrass (chopped finely (white parts only) or 3 tablespoons of Lemongrass paste); 2-3 shallots (peeled and chopped or small onion); 3 cloves garlic (peeled and minced); 2 tsp ginger root (fresh or about 1 inch knob grated (exchange with galangal if you have it)); 1-2 Thai bird chili (or to desired heat level); 3 tbsp fish sauce (we used Red Boat fish sauce to keep it gluten-free and Whole30 approved.); 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp lime zest (or finely chopped fresh kaffir lime leaves); salt and white pepper (to taste); 2 tsp sugar or sugar alternative (to follow Whole30 diet exchange with date paste.); 1 tbsp oil (light flavored); 1 head romaine lettuce (iceberg or Boston bibb lettuce works well); 2 carrots (peeled and cut into thin match sticks about 2 inches long); 1 cucumber (peeled and cut into thin match sticks about 2 inches long); 1 red bell peppers (deseeded and cut into thin match sticks about 2 inches long); 1 cup cilantro (fresh (stems removed)); 1/2 cup mint (optional (stems removed)); 3/4 cup peanuts (roasted and crushed (almonds are a great substitute if allergy)); 6 tbsp prik nam pla

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Easy Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps are served Thai Style with ground chicken, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts and the zing from our famous Prik Nam Pla dipping sauce. Larb Gai is traditional Thai and Laotian dish, a fun interactive appetizer or light main to serve with family and friends. (Low carb, gluten-free and vegan options too)

Ready to be served chicken lettuce wraps on a wooden plate with prik nam pla sauce on the side.

What’s your favorite cuisine? We know it’s difficult narrowing it down to just one. However, if we were stranded on a dessert island, Thailand cuisine would be on the top of our list. Super fresh and delicious flavors that are fun for sharing, like our Turmeric Pork Skewers and Thai Basil Dipping Sauce, Thai Shrimp Mango Salad, Thai Firecracker Shrimp Party Appetizer and our Gluten-Free Thai Shrimp Pancakes. We hope these Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps will go to the top of your favorites list too.

Imagine this… First, your tongue picks up the savory, sour, spicy and sweet prik nam pla sauce. Then, you get the crunch from the fresh veggies, herbs and roasted peanuts. Once you get a mouthful of Thai infused ground stir fried chicken you are hit with fresh lemongrass, shallots, garlic, Thai Bird Chilis, lime and gluten-free fish sauce. Your mouth will be singing. Come along and we’ll show you how to make this quick and easy Thai family favorite.

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps vs PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
How to Serve?
What is Lahb Gkai or Laab Gai or Larb Gai?
Great Recipe for Entertaining
Ingredients
How to Make Thai Lettuce Wraps?
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
More Delicious Thai Recipes

Healthy Chicken Lettuce wraps all prepared with toppings and ready to be served on a wooden Thai platter.

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps vs PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps

Have you ever tried a crisp lettuce wrap? We are not referring to the high-sugar ones from the strip mall pseudo-Asian fusion American restaurant chain between the pharmacy and the bank. Those are factory made to be very heavy with chemicals that taste like thick sweet hoisin and soy sauce. For the calories you just used into trying to eat light, you could have eaten a whole bowl of our Speedy Speedy Spinach Pasta. They both have about 300 calories and about 20 carbs for serving.

Instead, why not try our super light low carb fresh Thai chicken lettuce wraps? Our fresh ingredients won’t weigh you down. You can even make Whole30 lettuce wraps with a couple of suggestions we list in the ingredients below.

The interesting textures and the traditional flavors from the ingredients used in Thailand are going to make this your favorite appetizer or light meal. We bet you can’t eat just one lettuce wrap! These are much lighter and have fewer carbs than the PF Chang’s version.

Displaying all of the lettuce wrap ingredients on a table ready to be served for guests to make their own.

How to Serve?

Generally speaking, lettuce wraps (sometimes also called lettuce cups) are served family style. Just lay out the lettuce leaves, chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, cooked Thai minced chicken, crushed roasted peanuts and dipping sauce in individual plates or bowls and let everyone help themselves to create their own healthy lettuce wrap masterpiece. This way your family and/or guests can make it exactly the way they like it. Lettuce wraps are meant to be eaten with your hands, just like a taco. If you like lettuce wraps be sure to try our How to Make The Best Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps and our Parsley Lemon Pesto Shrimp Wraps.

What is Lahb Gkai or Laab Gai or Larb Gai?

Larb (ລາບ) is a popular meat salad recipe in Laos and also in the bordering Isan region of Thailand (ลาบ). It can be made with minced (ground) chicken, beef, pork, mushrooms, etc. Larb Gai is flavored with fish sauce, lime juice and padaek. Roasted rice powder is a very traditional ingredient that is used in larb. However, we chose to leave out the toasted rice powder and padaek in our lettuce wraps to cut down on the carbohydrates. Northeastern-Style Spicy Minced Chicken Salad is generally served with cut up vegetables, fresh herbs and a side of sticky rice.

Great Recipe for Entertaining

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a fun and interactive recipe for a gathering. Most everything can be done in advance. Literally, all we did was cut up some veggies and herbs and placed them on a platter and made a quick and easy prik nam pla dipping sauce. When your guests arrive, stir fry your marinated Thai infused minced chicken while you enjoy a Tropical Fruit Rambutan Cocktail or a Blue Elephant Chili Cocktail. You can be ready to eat in less than 10 minutes. Easy Peasy!

Ingredients

Ground Chicken (some of you may refer to this as minced chicken)

You could also use ground turkey, pork, beef or even chopped mushrooms. We chose ground chicken as this is more traditional. However, you could also use marinate chicken breast and grill, if you are hosting and outdoors gathering. Then, just slice thinly so they fit easily in a lettuce wrap.

Fresh Lemongrass, shallots, garlic, ginger, Thai Bird Chilis.

Do you have access to an Asian market near you? Then, fresh is the way to go. We only use the white portion of the fresh lemongrass and keep the green section for Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup. Galangal is preferred to ginger as this is more authentic. However, we used fresh ginger to demonstrate another good option that is readily available in most grocery stores.

We know that sometimes it is difficult to find some of Essential Thai Herbs and Spices. However, we have an easy solution. Have you ever tried Gourmet Garden Thai Seasoning stir in paste? You can find in the refrigerator section of the grocery store and it has all of the Thai aromatics already chopped and in a convenient squeeze container. (However, if you are watching your carbs, following a whole30 diet or are diabetic, please note that this has added dextrose to the mix)

Fish Sauce

This sauce adds that delicious umami flavor to this light and flavorful Thai appetizer. One of our favorite brands that is both gluten-free and Whole 30 approved is Red Boat Fish Sauce. If you want a vegan substitute, be sure to try these homemade vegan fish sauce recipes from Cooking Light.

Sugar or Sugar Alternative of choice

As you already know, Thai cuisine is built on the framework of having balance between the sour, savory spicy and the sweet. You can use brown sugar, if you wish. However, if you are on low carb diet, you can exchange with your favorite sugar alternative of choice. Are you on a whole30 plan this month? No worries! Just add a little date paste to the marinade.

Lime zest and Lime Juice

Limes are essential sour notes. However, if you can get your hands on fresh kaffir lime leaves, these are preferred over the lime zest. Limes can be found at most grocery markets and are very accessible.

Lettuce

We used romaine lettuce this week as that is what we had on hand. However, healthy chicken lettuce wraps also work well with Boston bibb lettuce. Heck if all you have is iceberg lettuce, go for it. We are all about using whatever you have on hand.

Fresh Crisp Vegetables

Cucumbers, bean sprouts, carrots, peppers are all delicious. Open up your crisper and see what you have and use that.

Fresh Herbs

Cilantro and mint are very traditional. If you like chopped green onions, these are nice too.

Roasted Chopped Peanuts

Nuts add a delicious fun crunch to lettuce cups. If there are allergies with peanuts, exchange with roasted crushed almonds.

Prik Nam Pla / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

Prik Nam Pla- The Incredible Thai Table Condiment

This is one delicious sauce that our family loves to slather on everything from eggs to our Authentic Thai Fish Salad. It is sour, sweet, spicy and savory. However, it is especially delicious on Thai ground chicken lettuce wraps. Are you are following a Whole30 diet this month? If so, exchange the sugar with a teaspoon of date paste or so to reach the flavor profile you are looking for.

How to Make Thai Lettuce Wraps?

Place a lettuce leaf on your plate.
Put a couple of tablespoons full of cooked Thai ground chicken on the lettuce leaf.
Top with julienne cut carrots
Add sliced peppers
Put a few julienned cucumber slices on top and roasted crushed peanuts
Drizzle on a little prik nam pla sauce and enjoy! Pick it up like a taco with your hands to eat.

Washed, cut and prepared Romaine lettuce leaves.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What is the best lettuce for lettuce wraps?

Either romaine lettuce or Boston bibb lettuce work best. However, you can use iceberg, leaf lettuce, endive or even cabbage leaves. We are all about using what you have on hand.

What to put in Lettuce Wraps?

The 2 basic foundational ingredients are lettuce leaves and stir-fried Thai ground chicken. Lettuce wraps are best served topped with all of your favorite crunchy vegetables like julienned cucumbers and carrots, bean sprouts and peppers. Fresh herbs like mint, cilantro and green onions are a nice topping. Roasted crushed peanut add an addictive crunch. Don’t forget about the delicious prik nam pla dipping sauce.

How to cut and prepare lettuce for lettuce wraps?

If using Romaine lettuce, place the romaine head of lettuce on its side. Trim off the top two-thirds of the leafy top of the lettuce. Leaving ⅓ of it on closest to the stem. Next, carefully remove the leaves one by one. Do not tear the leaves. Rinse the leaves with cool water and pat dry with toweling. The lettuce leaves are now ready for lettuce wraps.

Getting ready to put on a little prik nam pla sauce over the prepared Asian lettuce wrap.

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