I love the Szechuan peppercorn in these spicy Szechuan Lettuce Wraps. Szechuan has a very unique flavor. It is a different kind of spicy. It gives you a tingly feeling and has the slightest hint of citrus flavor. If you like spicy and have never tried it I encourage you to do so.
I noticed the prices at the grocery store are pretty high. Also, you have to commit to a whole jar of something you may not like. The solution, the bulk spices at Whole Foods. You are able to buy just what you need and can find out if you like the flavor before committing to a whole jar of it. They only had the whole peppercorn there so I just grind up what I need in my mortar and pestle. A spice grinder would work too if you had one. These lettuce wraps have some really bold flavors coming together for a really savory, salty, and spicy dish. The five-spice can be overpowering so make sure you do not add too much!
I made these with ground pork as it was marked down at my grocer to .75/lb, that’s crazy cheap! I bought 6 packs and froze them. This dish would be equally good with chicken or beef too. For some reason, I am just not a fan of ground turkey but if you are, go for it! This dish is kind of spicy. Because of that, for the kids, I just make some rice and peas and give them a little of the filling to mix in and make a rice bowl for them. When you are in the mood for some flavor try this dish out, you will not be disappointed!
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There are links on this site that are defined as “affiliate links”. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you happen to purchase something through the links provided.
Spicy Szechuan Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup tamari soy could be substituted
- 1 inch piece ginger peeled and cut into large pieces
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 scallions chopped
- 1 jalapeno seeded and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
- 1 teaspoon ground szechuan peppercon
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 can bean sprouts drained
- 1 large head or 2 small boston lettuce little gem or bibb works well too. cleaned and separated
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine the stock, tamari and ginger bring to a gentle simmer. Let this simmer gently while you cook the pork. Clean your lettuce and separate the leaves onto a serving tray.
- Heat a skillet or wok over high heat and add oil and the pork. Cook stirring and breaking up until the pork is browned. Add the five spice, scallions, jalapeno, garlic, and half the szechuan. Cook this stirring often for about 5 minutes. Taste and add remaining szechuan if desired.
- Add the stock taking care not to add the ginger to the pork mixture by using a slotted spoon or a strainer. Add the drained bean sprouts as well and simmer until the sauces are absorbed while scraping the bottom of the pan of any brown areas, 2-4 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish with the lettuce and top with the sesame seeds
