Finally!… The Husband is slowly coming around to my kind of {insane?} eating.
Thus, the addition of the Habanero Ketchup in these Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
My subliminal messaging and nightly brain-washing tapes are starting to work!
It’s good to make progress. 🙂
Do not worry!… if your family can’t stand the heat, I will not be sending you any eat spicy motivational or subliminal tapes, nor will I be using my uber spicy attitude to zap you through the airwaves…
As fun as that might sound for me, 🙂 simply substitute regular ketchup and omit the red pepper flakes to turn the temp down a notch.
I’m not budging on substituting the extra hot Chinese mustard though. You can, but realize…YMMV. Mustard is one of my favorite things in life ever, so I’m ssssoooo not willing to budge on that.
See? I’m negotiable. Wasn’t that easy?
Good. Let’s get to it.
We are HUGE fans of PF Changs. And although this recipe isn’t exactly the same, it has nearly all of the ingredients of their signature appetizer. It’s filled with Wok-seared chicken, mushrooms, onions and water chestnuts. All ready to be served inside a fresh, crisp lettuce cup so you can capture all that goodness inside.
Enjoy!
Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed into small pieces
- 1 5-ounce can whole water chestnuts, chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 5 to 7 leaves of iceberg lettuce
Sauce
- 1/8 - 1/4 cup sugar *see note
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons habanero ketchup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon seasame oil
- 1 tablespoon extra hot chinese hot mustard
- 2 teaspoons water
- 1 tablespoon garlic and red chile paste
Stir Fry Sauce
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar *see note
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil. Mix well and refrigerate sauce until ready to serve.
- Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set aside. Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.
- Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
- Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl. Add red pepper flakes, if desired.
- With the pan still on high heat, add another tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to pan. Add stir fry sauce to pan, saute mixture a couple minutes then serve in lettuce leaves.
Modified from Food.com P.F. Changs Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
Johlene says
I´ve seen this idea around the web and I think it´s very cute.. definitely more healthy!! 🙂
Glad to see one of us as won her husband over..lol
xoxo
Kristi says
Hahah – yes, keep at it Johlene – you’ll win yours over too – look at all those fabulous, decadent treats you serve. You’ve definitely won me over!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
I love lettuce wraps and these look like the PERFECT lunch! Lovin how you added some heat to this recipe! Definitely has my name written all over it! 😉
Kristi says
I’m so glad you like it Sarah! I love me some heat too – you can write your name right next to mine. 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Yum, we too love PF Changs and lettuce wraps are my favorite. I love your sauce recipe. Habanero ketchup…sounds spicy 😀 I’ll have to look for that next time I’m shopping. Pinning
Kristi says
It’s the best Cindy – we really love it. If you can’t find it – try your specialty stores like World Imports or Cost Plus. Do you have those where you live?
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Thanks! We have one that is not too far, but I can’t remember which one it is. I haven’t been in quite some time, but I do love there kitchen section 😀
Kristi says
I love another one of their dishes that I’m going to try to duplicate. I will keep you posted!
Annie @Maebells says
oooohhhh! This is calling my name! I love lettuce wraps! These look fantastic!
Kristi says
Thanks Annie! We love them – and I hope you will too!
Monica says
I can taste the spice, the juiciness just from the one photo! I’ve made chicken lettuce wraps with ground chicken but never used cubed chicken like this…great idea! I’m sure it beats PF Chang! : )
Kristi says
You should try cubed chicken Monica – you get a lot of bite with it! The spice is such a nice change! Have a beautiful week!
Kathleen-Gonna Want Seconds says
I wish I could get my hubby on board with a little spice! These look like a perfect summer meal!
Kristi says
Oh Kathleen – I feel for you. I had to convert my hubby too. It was like – you want me to cook, get used to spice! Hahaha! Have a great week!
Consuelo - Honey & Figs says
Aw gal, you’re too funny! Seriously, you always get to crack me up! 😉
These lettuce wraps look super delicious and the spicyness is definitely not optional for me!
Kristi says
OMG – you are one to talk – you are one of my favorite blogs to read!!! I laugh every.single.time. Girl, you crazy. 🙂 I’m glad you like the spicy-ness, because if you didn’t, I might have to be-friend you! Hahahaha! JK. You know I love you!!!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I love spice and that habanero ketchup and the resulting sauce that you’ve made with it sound right up my alley! 😀
Kristi says
Thanks Lorraine! I’m so glad you like it!
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron says
You crack me up, Kristi. Subliminal tapes?! But don’t worry, I won’t need any of that. Because these chicken lettuce wraps look absolutely delicious! Mouth-watering! Yum! I saw them on facebook first and they had me drooling right away. LOL
Kristi says
Hahaha! I’m so glad you like them! See, you didn’t know it, but those subliminal tapes are working…that’s the creepy thing about them! Haha!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
PF Chang lettuce wraps are my favorite!! And now I can make them at home? Done and done! Love these Kristi!
Kristi says
I’m so glad you like them Chelsea! We are huge fans of PF Changs. Have a wonderful day!
Thaila @ butter and brioche says
wow this recipe takes me back to my childhood! love it! thanks for sharing another great recipe Kristi, definitely will be creating this recipe this week. thanks!
Kristi says
I’m so glad you like it Thaila! And I feel honored that it took you back to your childhood – that makes me happy! Have a beautiful weekend!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
You can handle some heat! Maybe you should send me those motivational and subliminal tapes because I don’t think I told you but I am a weakling and when I made your spicy bbq shrimp, I had to double everything else in the sauce because I could barely breathe when I taste tested it! lol.
Irregardless, these chicken lettuce wraps look awesome. I haven’t eaten at PF Changs in forever but I would much rather just make these at home! Yummms {HUGS}
Kristi says
Oh no, Lindsey. You’re a spice weakling? I’m sorry darling, but we can’t be friends any more. Hahahahah! (psssttt… I’ll talk to ya again tomorrow, mmmm, k?) 🙂
I am LOL’ing at your Spicy BBQ Shrimp challenges with my recipe – you never told me that before in the 8 million times we’ve talked, but girllll…that’s funny. You know I love you – spice challenged or not…we’re like one and the same. {{Hugs}}
angela@spinachtiger says
Thanks for a great reminder to make lettuce wraps. Healthy, and delicious and this recipes looks perfect.
Kristi says
Thanks Angela! I hope you love it! Have a beautiful Sunday!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Love the PF Changs lettuce wraps! Totally need to try these!! I’m totally pinning so I remember to make!
Kristi says
Thanks for the pin Chris – I love PF Changs, and these wraps are one of our favorites!
Monet says
Delicious! I I can see why your husband is coming around. This looks like a dish that my husband would love too! Thank you for sharing!
Kristi says
Thanks Monet! I hope you get a chance to try it! Have a lovely weekend!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I’m glad you brainwashed him into liking such good food! LOL I LOVE LOVE LOVE lettuce wraps!
Kristi says
Me too Ashley – you and I eat alike! 🙂
ananda says
i bet life is just divine with habanero ketchup!! thank you kristi for another inspiring recipe, and perfect for summer! =)
Kristi says
Thanks Ananda! We loved the habanero ketchup when we found it and now it’s a staple in our house! 🙂
Sara {Home is Where The Cookies Are} says
Ooo. I love lettuce wraps. They make me feel like I’m breaking some sort of junk food rule. But I’m NOT. These look yummy!
Kristi says
Thanks Sara! I know, right? They are so not junk food!