Cilantro Citrus Lettuce Wraps
These perfect healthy little snacks pack spice and crunch into every bite! While the citrus and cilantro create an amazing melody in your mouth—especially when they’re combined with the heat from the chili sauce—the ginger and honey are settling and sweet. Enjoy inside wraps of lettuce as seen here, or cut and serve on toothpicks as hors d’oeuvres.
Serves 4–6
1 tablespoon olive oil
1⁄2 cup (480 ml) chopped yellow onion
1 cup (240 ml) chopped mushrooms
1 cup (240 ml) chopped cashews
1 tablespoon garlic
1 pound (454 g) ground chicken
2 tablespoons (30 ml) Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon (15 ml) raw organic honey
6 large iceberg lettuce leaves
- In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add mushrooms, cashews, and garlic and sauté for 3–4 more minutes. Push everything in the pan to the sides and add ground chicken to the center. Cook until chicken is cooked through and crumbly.
- Add the Sriracha sauce and honey to the meat and stir until ingredients are well blended. Scoop 1⁄2 cup (480 ml) (or more) of the contents from the pan, to a lettuce leaf, wrap and enjoy! Repeat with remaining iceberg lettuce leaves, until all the pan’s contents are used up.
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Cilantro citrus lettuce wraps are cool, crunchy cups filled with a warm, spicy chicken and cashew filling — sweet onion, mushrooms, and garlic sautéed with ground chicken, then tossed with Sriracha and honey. Fresh cilantro and a squeeze of citrus keep everything bright against the heat. They're messy, fun, and packed with flavor.
Pro Tips
- Chop the cashews roughly so they add crunch throughout the filling rather than falling to the bottom of the pan.
- Push the vegetables to the sides and cook the chicken in the center so it browns properly instead of steaming in the vegetables.
- Squeeze citrus over the filling just before serving — the fresh acid balances the sweet-spicy glaze beautifully.
- Keep the iceberg leaves cold and crisp; the contrast between cool cup and warm filling is the whole appeal of this dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes — turkey works just as well and takes the same seasonings. It's leaner, so keep an eye on the pan and add a touch more oil if needed.
How spicy are these wraps?
Moderately spicy from the two tablespoons of Sriracha, balanced by the honey. Halve the Sriracha for a gentler filling.
What lettuce works best?
Iceberg for maximum crunch and the classic cup shape. Butter lettuce is softer and sweeter if you prefer a more delicate wrap.
Are they Paleo?
Yes — chicken, vegetables, cashews, Sriracha (check the label), honey, and lettuce. Naturally gluten-free and fun for a hands-on dinner.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes, or until translucent.
- Add mushrooms, cashews, and garlic and sauté for 3–4 more minutes. Push everything in the pan to the sides and add ground chicken to the center.
- Cook until chicken is cooked through and crumbly.
- Add the Sriracha sauce and honey to the meat and stir until ingredients are well blended. Scoop 1⁄2 cup (or more) of the contents from the pan, to a lettuce leaf, wrap and enjoy!
- Repeat with remaining iceberg lettuce leaves, until all the pan’s contents are used up.
