Serves a Crowd

Spicy Meatless Lettuce Wraps

by:
August 14, 2016
5 Stars
Spicy Meatless Lettuce Wraps
Photo by Linda Xiao
Author Notes

Tired of bringing hummus to parties as your vegan appetizer of choice? Then these spicy lettuce wraps--which are sure to please any crowd of eaters--are your next party offering. Simple to prepare, satisfying, and full of flavor. —Gena Hamshaw

  • Serves 12
Ingredients
  • Meatless Balls
  • 8 ounces frozen, vegan meatless balls
  • 1 large clove garlic, finely minced or grated on a microplane
  • 2 teaspoons finely minced, fresh ginger (or 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon peanut, safflower, or sesame oil
  • Slaw and Wraps
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
  • 2 cups shredded green or red cabbage
  • 1 green onion, tops only, chopped
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed, chopped mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed, chopped basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup roasted, chopped peanuts
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar (if you only have seasoned, decrease or omit soy sauce)
  • dash crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 head bibb or Boston lettuce (about 12 leaves)
  • Extra cilantro sprigs, thinly sliced Thai chiles, sriracha or gochujang (optional, for topping)
In This Recipe
Directions
  1. Transfer the meatless balls to a rectangular glass lock container or a wide, shallow bowl. Whisk together the marinade ingredients. Pour marinade over the meatless balls, cover, and allow them to marinate for 20-30 minutes.
  2. While the meatless balls marinate, mix all slaw ingredients (carrots through red pepper flakes) together in a mixing bowl and adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or saute pan. Add the meatless balls and cook, stirring the balls often so that they brown evenly, for 4-6 minutes, or until lightly browned throughout.
  4. To serve the lettuce wraps, place 2 meatless balls and a spoonful of the slaw into each lettuce cup. Add any additional toppings you like, wrap, and enjoy!
Tags:

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Gena Hamshaw
Gena is a registered dietitian, recipe developer, and food blogger. She's the author of three cookbooks, including Power Plates (2017) and Food52 Vegan (2015). She enjoys cooking vegetables, making bread, and challenging herself with vegan baking projects.

Popular on Food52

1 Review

Ghazzzit
Ghazzzit March 17, 2019
Made this appetizer for a party we hosted. They were delicious and very well received by guests!
Minor changes made:
- used sunflower seeds instead of the peanuts (due to a peanut allergy )
- used Trader Joes vegan chorizo instead of the mock-meatballs, so they were more loose-meat style
- added some broccoli slaw to the carrot & cabbage mixture
I loved these and will definitely make them again! Thank you for a great vegan recipe enjoyed by all dietary preferences.