Chinese Lettuce Recipe 生菜 | Chinese New Year, CNY

ground chicken

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is lower in fat while ground pork is often less expensive.

hoisin sauce

🥗Healthier: plum sauce

💰Cheaper: soy sauce + sugar

Plum sauce provides a similar sweetness, while soy sauce and sugar can mimic the flavor.

sesame oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is a healthier fat, while canola oil is often cheaper.

water chestnuts

🥗Healthier: jicama

💰Cheaper: canned water chestnuts

Jicama offers a similar crunch and is often fresher.

Cut the bottom off the head of Chinese lettuce and separate the leaves.

Wash the leaves thoroughly under running water.

Start with a pot of boiling water at a rolling boil.

Add 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water.

Put in the lettuce when the water is at a rolling boil.

Remove the lettuce as soon as it turns a darker shade of green (about 20 seconds).

Do not overcrowd the pan; blanch in batches if necessary.

Chop up 3 cloves of garlic.

Julienne 4 slices of ginger and some chilies.

Heat up 40 ml of oil until it's smoking hot, then turn off the heat.

Gently pour the hot oil over the chopped garlic, ginger, and chilies to activate the flavors.

Let the mixture cool for about a minute, then add in 40 ml of soy sauce and stir well.

Arrange the blanched lettuce nicely onto a plate and pour the salad dressing over the leaves.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens