It's Delish! Cooking With The Glamorous Housewife: 'Chicken' Lettuce Cups With Basmati Rice

Tonight we venture to the Far East- or at least to P.F. Changs with our fake chicken lettuce cups and steamed rice. This meal takes about 30 minutes as I cook it and according the recipe, 45 minutes if you use real chicken.



You can find the original recipe here or try it the Glamorous Housewife way as follows:

First I start with the rice. I use 1 cup of basmati to 1 1/2 cups water. I bring it to a boil, turn the heat down as low as possible and cover. I let this cook as I prepare the rest of the meal.

Chicken Stir-Fry Wraps:
1 bag of Morning Star 'Chik'n' Strips
2 Tbsp oil
1 large onion
1 large bell pepper
3 garlic cloves
1 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
pinch of red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
corn starch
1 head Boston, Bibb, or Iceberg lettuce

First I place the fake chicken in a strainer and rinse all of the spices using hot water. This accomplishes two things: it gets rid of the packaged spices which don't work with Asian food and it thaws the strips. Then I let it drain in the sink while I prepare the veggies.



I get a pan hot while I thinly slice the bell pepper and onion. Then I start with the bell pepper and let that cook for about 2 minutes followed by the onion for about 5 minutes until they are both soft. While the veggies are cooking I take about 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch and sprinkle it on the fake chicken strips along with some kosher salt. Then I add the strips to the pan when the veggies are soft.

Then I mince the garlic and grate the ginger on a zester after I have peeled it. I peel the ginger with a spoon. When the 'chicken' is heated through (3-5 min) I add the garlic, ginger and a pinch of the red pepper flakes. I let this cook for about 1 minute. Then I add the soy sauce and rice vinegar. I let this cook for 1 minute and turn off the burner.

At some point I cut the core out of the lettuce and separate them into leaves. These should be washed and towel dried.

By now the rice should be done, the chicken should be done and you should be starving from smelling the vibrant scent of the garlic and ginger.



Just place a little rice in your lettuce cup, add some chicken, fold the sides of the lettuce together and eat! I like this meal because it is very low in fat, high in protein, and it is vegan! I also like the juxtaposition between the heat of the garlic and pepper flakes against the cool crispness of the lettuce.