Seitan and Vegetable Lettuce Wraps
2 min readThese flavorful lettuce wraps also make a great appetizer or snack. Extra-firm tofu can replace the seitan, if desired.
MAKES 4 MAIN DISH OR 8 APPETIZER SERVINGS
4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry, sake, or dry white wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1⁄2 to 1 teaspoon Chinese chili paste, or to taste
1⁄4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon toasted (dark) sesame oil
1⁄2 tablespoon peanut oil
3⁄4 pound seitan, drained, patted dry with paper towels, cut into 1⁄2-inch cubes
1 medium red bell pepper (about 6 ounces), chopped
3 scallions, white and green parts separated, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, rinsed, drained, and chopped
1 head iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves, washed, dried, leaves separated, large outer leaves cut lengthwise in half
Prepared hoisin sauce, Hoisin Sauce, or Quick Spicy Hoisin Sauce, to serve
In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, water, wine, sugar, cornstarch, chili paste, salt, and black pepper until well blended; set aside.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1⁄2 tablespoon sesame oil and the peanut oil over medium-high heat. Add the seitan, bell pepper, white parts of the scallions, and celery; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Add the water chestnuts and green parts of the scallions and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium and add the reserved soy sauce mixture. Cook, stirring, until heated through and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 1⁄2 tablespoon sesame oil; let cool a few minutes.
To serve, place 1 to 2 heaping teaspoons of the seitan and vegetable mixture into the middle of a lettuce leaf. Top with hoisin sauce. Fold into a packet or roll up. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
{PER SERVING} (without sauce) Calories 285 • Protein 19g • Total Fat 12g • Sat Fat 2g • Cholesterol 0mg • Carbohydrate 30g • Dietary Fiber 2g • Sodium 757mg
