Tempeh Lettuce Wraps
 
 
Lettuce wraps are a favorite around here, especially since we can be picky and add what toppings we want. Oh, and they're fresh and easy to make. I suggest having all of your ingredients out, ready to go, and even chopped before anything else; it just makes life easier. I was inspired by a Vegetarian Times recipe, but I made lots of changes by adding ingredients and omitting some. That's the beauty of these . . . they're so versatile.
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • Filling:
  • 2 8oz pkg. tempeh, broken into chunks
  • 5 large mushrooms, diced
  • 1 can water chestnuts, chopped (I didn't have any, but I would have used them if I did, so these are certainly optional)
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • 2 Tbs fresh garlic, minced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1-1/4 C vegetable broth
  • ¼ C fresh mint, chopped
  • ⅛ C lime juice
  • 1 Tbs tamari
  • 1 Tbs toasted brown rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • ¼ tsp brown sugar
  • Sauce:
  • ⅛ C lime juice
  • ⅛ C water
  • ⅛ C sugar
  • 2 Tbs tamari
  • 1 Tbs brown rice vinegar
  • ½ tsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbs yellow miso
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Toppings:
  • 2 carrots, shredded
  • 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced into strips
  • Fresh basil, sliced into strips
  • 1 C green onions, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced into thin strips
  • ½ C chopped peanuts and slivered almonds (also chopped)
  • 12-16 large lettuce leaves
Directions
  1. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. To make the filling, pulse the tempeh in a food processor. Depending on your preference, you can pulse it until you're left with course pieces, or process it a bit more like I did. It can be difficult to get a consistent texture if you want larger pieces.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet and add the ginger and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, then add the tempeh (and water chestnuts, if suing) and broth. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Uncover, add the mushrooms, increase heat to medium-high, and cook ten minutes. Stir in the remaining filling ingredients and heat thoroughly.
  3. Since you were so efficient in your prep work . . . ;-) you're ready to fill the lettuce wraps! Place a scoop in the center of the lettuce leaf and add your favorite toppings, and drizzle with about a tablespoon of the sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe by Epicurean Vegan at http://epicureanvegan.com/2013/05/14/tempeh-lettuce-wraps/