Beef Lettuce Wraps Peanuts (Printable)
Savory Asian-style beef with fresh lettuce and crunchy peanuts offers a vibrant, light dish.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 small onion, finely diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
08 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional; omit for shellfish-free)
10 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
11 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ For Serving
14 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
15 - 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
17 - Lime wedges (optional)
# How To Cook:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and diced onion. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in diced red bell pepper, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, optional oyster sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until peppers soften and beef is coated.
04 - Remove skillet from heat and stir in sliced green onions.
05 - Spoon beef mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Top with chopped peanuts and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, and most of that is just chopping vegetables.
- It's naturally gluten-free friendly if you swap your sauces, making it flexible for different diets at the table.
- The contrast between the juicy warm beef and the cool crisp lettuce feels indulgent without being heavy.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef—it's the difference between a dish that tastes clean and one that feels heavy and slick in your mouth.
- The lettuce leaves should be cold and crisp, so keep them in the fridge until the last possible moment; warm lettuce is a letdown nobody asked for.
03 -
- Toast your peanuts lightly in a dry skillet before chopping if you want to amplify their flavor—it takes two minutes and changes everything.
- Set up a little assembly station with the lettuce leaves, beef, peanuts, and cilantro all in separate bowls so guests or family can build exactly what they want.