Thai Pork Lettuce Cups
Thai Pork Lettuce Cups are vibrant, flavor-packed bites inspired by the street food culture of Thailand. Juicy ground pork is infused with aromatic herbs, zesty lime, and a kiss of heat, all wrapped in cool, crisp butter lettuce. This dish beautifully balances the five flavor pillars of Thai cuisine—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy—making it a delightful and refreshing appetizer or light main course.
Equipment
Large skillet or wok
Cutting Board
Sharp chef's knife
Microplane or fine grater (for zesting)
Serving platter or shallow bowl
Ingredients
For the Pork Filling:
1 pound ground pork - use pasture-raised pork for best flavor
2 tablespoons vegetable oil - neutral oils like canola or peanut oil work well
4 cloves garlic - minced
1 tablespoon ginger - fresh ; grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce - low sodium preferred
1 tablespoon fish sauce - quality Thai fish sauce like Red Boat
1 tablespoon brown sugar - packed- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce - adjust to taste
1 tablespoon lime juice - freshly squeezed
2 teaspoons lime zest - from 1 lime
¼ cup cilantro - fresh ; chopped
¼ cup mint - fresh leaves ; chopped
For the Assembly:
1 head butter lettuce - separated into whole leaves- ¼ cup roasted peanuts - chopped
- 1 piece red chili - sliced thinly, optional for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat (about 375°F / 190°C). When shimmering, add the garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the ground pork to the skillet. Break it up with a spatula and cook for 5–7 minutes or until fully browned and cooked through. The meat should be crumbly and lightly golden.
- Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, chili garlic sauce, and lime juice. Mix thoroughly and cook for 2 minutes, allowing the sauces to reduce slightly.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the lime zest, chopped cilantro, and chopped mint. Taste and adjust flavors as needed—more lime juice for tartness, fish sauce for depth, or chili sauce for heat.
- To assemble, place spoonfuls of the warm pork mixture into individual butter lettuce leaves. Top with chopped peanuts and sliced red chili if using.
Notes
- Chop herbs just before serving for maximum aroma.
- Replace pork with ground chicken or turkey for a leaner version.
- For gluten-free, ensure soy and fish sauces are certified gluten-free.
Nutrition
Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 24gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1026mgPotassium: 609mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1654IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 2mg
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