What’s the Best Lettuce for San Choy Bao?

Great question! Iceberg lettuce is the classic choice because it’s super crunchy and holds up well in wraps. But if you want something a little softer, butter lettuce or baby cos lettuce are great options too. They’re more pliable and less likely to tear when you wrap them up!

Can I Use Chicken Instead of Pork?

Absolutely! You can swap out the pork for chicken, turkey, or even tofu for a vegetarian version. Chicken will give you a lighter filling, but make sure to cook it well so it’s juicy and tender!

How Do I Prevent Soggy Lettuce?

To keep your lettuce crisp, make sure you dry the leaves thoroughly after washing them. Also, try not to fill them too far in advance—assemble the wraps just before you serve them to keep everything crunchy.

Can I Make San Choy Bao Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make the filling ahead! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat it in a pan and assemble with fresh lettuce leaves.

What Can I Serve with San Choy Bao?

San Choy Bao is perfect on its own as a snack or light meal, but you can also serve it with steamed rice, garlic stir-fried vegetables, or a simple Asian noodle salad to complete the meal.

Can I Make This Dish Spicy?

For sure! If you like a bit of heat, add some chili garlic sauce or sriracha to the filling. You can also serve it with extra chili sauce on the side for those who want to turn up the spice!

Delicious and Healthy San Choy Bao Chinese Lettuce Wraps

Name: San Choy Bao (Chinese Lettuce Wraps) – Best Healthy Snack!
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: Ground Pork (or Chicken/Turkey/Tofu) – 1 lb (450g); Water Chestnuts – 1 can (100g/3.5oz); Onion – 1 medium; Garlic – 2 cloves; Ginger – 1 tablespoon; Carrot – 1 medium; Baby Corn – 1/2 cup; Soy Sauce – 1 tablespoon; Hoisin Sauce – 1 tablespoon; Oyster Sauce – 1 tablespoon; Sesame Oil – 1 teaspoon; Chili Garlic Sauce (optional) – 1 tablespoon; Lettuce Leaves – About 10-12; Roasted Peanuts – 1/4 cup; Fresh Coriander (Cilantro) – 1/4 cup

Ingredients

Scale

For the Lettuce Wraps

6 small iceberg lettuce leaves

For the Pork

200g pork scotch, roughly chopped
1 tsp cooking wine
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp YumYum (MSG)
¼ tsp white pepper

For the Filling

1 can (100g) water chestnuts, small diced
2 shiitake mushrooms, soaked and roughly chopped
½ can canned straw mushrooms
½ can bamboo shoots, finely chopped
¼ cup finely sliced spring onions

For the Sauce

2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp light soy sauce
½ tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp chicken powder
¼ tsp YumYum (MSG)
2 tsp oyster sauce
¼ tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp Shaoxing wine

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Instructions

Carefully peel the iceberg lettuce leaves from the head, keeping them whole, trimming them with a pair of scissors to create the best shape,e and set them aside for serving.
In a bowl, combine pork scotch, cooking wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, YumYum (MSG), and white pepper. Mix well and set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.
Heat vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
Add the marinated pork and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.
Add the water chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, straw mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are heated through and slightly tender.
Stir in the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, chicken powder, YumYum (MSG), Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, and sesame oil, tossing well to coat the pork and vegetables evenly.
Stir in the spring onions and cook for 1 more minute before removing from heat.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared lettuce leaves, folding them like cups.
Serve immediately and enjoy the crispy, savory flavors in every bite.

Author: Vincent Yeow Lim
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 10
Category: Appetizer
Method: Easy
Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3
Calories: 400
Sugar: 24.6 g
Sodium: 1613.1 mg
Fat: 12.8 g
Carbohydrates: 63.4 g
Fiber: 10.9 g
Protein: 13.7 g
Cholesterol: 20.9 mg