Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Print Version)
Tender beef with crunchy cashews in crisp lettuce cups with Asian flavors.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
02 - 1 lb lean ground beef
03 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely diced
05 - 1 medium carrot, finely diced
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts, roughly chopped
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
10 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
11 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
12 - 1 tsp sesame oil
13 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 tsp brown sugar
15 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
→ Serving
16 - 1 large head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
18 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Prepare:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, approximately 4–5 minutes.
02 - Add garlic, onion, carrot, and red bell pepper to the skillet. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until vegetables reach tender-crisp consistency.
03 - Add cashew nuts and spring onions, stirring constantly to combine evenly with the beef mixture.
04 - Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, ginger, brown sugar, and chili flakes in a small bowl. Pour over beef mixture, stirring thoroughly to coat. Cook for 1–2 minutes until heated through and fragrant.
05 - Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Spoon beef-cashew mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Each bite delivers that perfect combination of warm seasoned beef against cold crisp lettuce
- The entire dish comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent much longer
02 -
- Drain excess fat from the beef before adding vegetables or the lettuce cups will be soggy
- Let the filling cool slightly before assembling or warm lettuce wilts too fast
03 -
- Chop all vegetables to the same size so every bite has the same texture
- Serve immediately after cooking because the filling loses its magic when refrigerated