Sweet & Spicy Pork Lettuce Wraps

An umami-packed appetizer that will hit all the notes

My favorite super simple handheld appetizer

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Ingredients

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp soyaki (a Trader Joes product)

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp honey

1 carrot, run through a cheese grater to slaw-ify it

1/2 large jalapeño diced (you could do a full for more zing)

1 lb ground pork

1 head of butter lettuce, leaves pulled off, rinsed, and dried

Optional: 1 tsp baking soda

Optional: minced cilantro and mint for garnish

Instructions

For step by step how to videos for this recipe, visit @ChefMcShane on instagram and check out my Sweet & Spicy Pork Lettuce Wraps highlight!

Get your pork into a medium skillet on medium heat and begin to break it up with a wooden spoon. Optional: I read once that adding a tsp of baking soda at this stage will make the meat brown better, and I have found that it works!

While that is browning, combine the liquid ingredients to make your marinade.

Once pork is crumbled and mostly cooked, scoop pork out with a slotted spoon into a bowl. Add jalapeño to pork fat on medium and sweat for 2-3 minutes. Then add carrot and stir, cooking for another 2-3 minutes.

Deglaze the skillet with the marinade and stir to combine, then add pork back in. Let cook for another 2-3 minutes until juices have incorporated and thickened slightly.

Plate with a handful of butter lettuce leaves, some yummy rice, cucumber salad, or whatever fixins you like! Garnish with mint and cilantro