Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients Needed for Lettuce Wraps

• Tofu: Be sure to select firm or extra firm tofu, not silken tofu.
• Mushrooms: I highly suggest opting for dried wild mushrooms for the earthiest flavor. However, they are pricier so feel free to use cremini or oyster mushrooms in place of the dried mushrooms.
• Water Chestnuts: Canned water chestnuts are found in the Asian section of your local grocery section. They add incredible crunch and texture to the lettuce wrap filling.
• Sauce: The flavorful lettuce wrap filling sauce is made with sweet chili sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine vinegar. It is sweet, spicy, salty, and irresistible.
• Toppings: I love to add sliced green onions for flavor, Chow Mein Noodles for crunch (just like PF Chang's), and a bit of hot sauce for kick.
• Lettuce: Use a soft lettuce, such as green leaf lettuce or bibb lettuce, which will allow the leaves to wrap around the filling.

How to Make Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Press the Tofu. The first step to preparing lettuce wraps using tofu is to press the tofu to drain off excess liquid, which will prevent the vegetarian lettuce wrap filling from becoming soggy. To do so, simply place the block of firm tofu in between thick paper towels and place it on a plate or tray and top with a heavy skillet. Let the tofu sit for 20 minutes and then crumble or dice the tofu into bite-size pieces.

4. Sauté the Filling. Heat a large skillet over high heat, add the crumbled tofu and sear, turning often, until golden and crispy. Add the mushrooms, water chestnuts, and sauce to the skillet and simmer until just thickened.

5. Serve Filling in Lettuce Cups. Dish up the tofu mixture into lettuce leaves and top with sliced green onions, chow mein noodles, and hot sauce.