Asian Lentil Lettuce Wraps
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Asian Lentil Lettuce Wraps with these no one will even miss the meat! They’re easy to make, full of flavor and you’ll love all that crunch!
This post was sponsored by USA Pulses and Pulse Canada, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Healthy Lettuce Wrap Recipe
I know this week with Thanksgiving just around the corner it’s going to be all about a calorie and dessert splurge so I’ve been trying to squeeze in a lot of healthy meals for lunch and dinner for my family this week.
Dinners like these delicious Asian Lettuce Wraps! You wouldn’t believe how good these are!
Want to see how easy this lettuce wraps recipe is? Watch the video!
They have no poultry or meat, rather they are made with protein-rich ultra filling lentils and no one could hardly taste the difference between these and the chicken version (plus lentils are a cheaper alternative).
A Recipe Everyone will Love!
In fact the first time I made this (when I was recipe testing) I had my mom taste test and the lentils were a little more mashed up because I cooked them just a little too long but she didn’t even notice that it wasn’t the traditional chicken lettuce wraps until I told her!
And even my two little picky eaters loved these! My kids can be my worst critics lately but they gave these the thumbs up.
I’ve added lentils to soups (1, 2) and salads but hadn’t really made them into a main dish until these wraps and now I’m thinking there’s so many other things I need to try them out in!
They are such a healthy ingredient – not only are they a great source of protein but they are also a great source of fiber and they are rich in so many vitamins and minerals (such as folate, iron and manganese).
Ingredients Needed for This Recipe
- Red lentils
- Olive oil
- Fresh vegetables including red onion, yellow onion, matchstick carrots, garlic, ginger, green onions and cilantro
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Canned water chestnuts
- Walnuts
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Iceberg lettuce or butter lettuce
Scroll below for full printable recipe.
How to Make Healthy Lettuce Wraps
- Simmer lentils in unsalted water according to package directions just until tender.
- Saute bell pepper and onion in a skillet with olive oil until softened.
- Add in carrots, garlic and ginger and saute 1 minute longer.
- Add in drained lentils, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and water chestnuts, cook while tossing, 1 minute.
- Toss in walnuts, sprinkle with green onions, cilantro and optional sesame seeds. Serve filling warm in lettuce leaves.
What is a Pulse?
Did you know that lentils are part of the pulse family? And what’s a pulse you may be asking?
Pulses are the delicious, protein-packed, sustainable foods known as dry peas, chick peas, lentils and beans.
Pulses are a some of my go-to ingredients. I can’t even count how many times I’m adding black beans to something throughout the week – from black bean taco salad and black bean tacos, to my latest chicken and sweet potato skillet dinner, to another skillet dinner, to chili and so much more!
Black beans may be my favorite of the pulse family but garbanzo beans and now lentils are a close second. They are so filling and so versatile and I really do enjoy the flavor.
And now I’m also trying to find more ways to add the dry peas into my diet because they are such a nutritious ingredient as well.
More Healthy Recipes
This year I really have been trying to add even more pulses into my family’s diet and I encourage you guys to do the same! They are food I feel great about eating.
If you are looking for ways to eat healthier, try adding more pulses into your diet! You can sign up for the Half-Cup Habit and see how easy it can be to add 1/2 cup serving of pulses to your diet 3 times per week.
Follow Easy Cooking Zone
Asian Lentil Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup chopped red bell pepper (1 small)
- 3/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion (1 small)
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, or more to taste
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce, or to taste
- 1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
- 1 - 2 heads iceberg lettuce or butter lettuce, leaves separated, rinsed and dried
Instructions
- Simmer lentils in unsalted water according to package directions until just tender (about 15 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in bell pepper and onion and saute until softened, about 5 - 6 minutes.
- Add in carrots, garlic and ginger and saute 1 minute longer.
- Add in drained lentils, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and water chestnuts, cook while tossing, 1 minute (thin as needed with a few tablespoons of water. The lentils will absorb some of the sauce as the mixtures rests so you can thin with a little water as desired).
- Toss in walnuts, sprinkle with green onions, cilantro and optional sesame seeds. Serve filling warm in lettuce leaves (I like to double up the lettuce leaves).
- Recipe source: Easy Cooking Zone