San Choy Bow

You'll love the flavors of San Choy Bow (San Choi Bao), guaranteed to be a family dinner favorite. Your kids will love eating these with their hands! These Asian Lettuce Wraps have origins from China and have a great balance between the crunchy lettuce and the savory meaty filling.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Fast - dinner done in about 20 minutes, so easy!
• Budget Friendly - ground meat and lettuce is affordable; pantry staples like Soy Sauce and Oyster Sauce ensure this is an inexpensive dinner than anyone can make, with great tips to make it your own
• Healthy and Carb Free - a wholesome meal that's full of nutrients and low in carbs

Ingredients

• Lettuce - iceberg lettuce is traditional
• Ground Chicken - or can use pork or beef
• Aromatics - garlic, onion, ginger, cilantro, (optional chili pepper)
• Mushrooms - sliced white or brown mushrooms for moisture and flavor
• Water Chestnuts - for a crunchy texture
• Sauces - Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil

How to Make San Choy Bow

1. Sauté Aromatics - heat oil in a frying pan. Cook onion, garlic, ginger, mushrooms and optional chili peppers until fragrant (about 3 minutes)
2. Brown Meat - add ground chicken and cook until browned, (about 5 minutes).
3. Season - mix in Oyster Sauce, Sesame Oil, Soy Sauce.
4. Add Vegetables - toss through Water Chestnuts (and any other vegetables) and cook for another 2 minutes.
5. Assemble - spoon the meat filling into a single lettuce leaf, creating individual wraps. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

San Choy Bow Variations

• Vegetarian - substitute the meat with Tofu and use vegetarian Oyster Sauce or Hoisin Sauce
• Spicy - add hot chili peppers or drizzle with Creamy Sriracha Sauce or Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
• Seafood - add chopped shrimp or canned crab meat for a seafood twist
• Ground Meat - substitute with your favorite ground meat or minced meat - Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Beef, Veal, Venison or Bison

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• Hoisin Sauce - a great substitute for Soy Sauce that changes the flavor or your Asian Lettuce Wraps
• Boost the Vegetables - sauté grated Carrots, sliced Sweet Red Peppers, Bean Sprouts or Snow Peas to increase your veggies
• Asian Vegetables - add Bamboo Shoots, Shiitake Mushrooms or Baby Corn
• Make a Salad - chop lettuce into salad size pieces and place into a bowl. Top with San Choy Bow filling and enjoy!

Best Lettuce for San Choy Bow

Typically Iceberg Lettuce is commonly used when making Chicken Asian Lettuce Wraps. However, Butter Lettuce is softer and easier to roll, and Romaine Lettuce (Cos Lettuce) has a great crunch. Use your favorite lettuce.

Can I Make This Ahead of Time?

Yes, it's easy to prepare the meat filling ahead of time. Allow to cool, cover and refrigerate until ready to reheat. Assemble just before serving to keep it fresh and crispy.

Asian Recipes You'll Love

• Thai Beef Rissoles (meat patties)
• Kimchi Fried Rice
• How to Cook Snow Peas
• Sweet Chili Chicken Drumsticks
• Roasted Broccoli with Garlic Soy
• Cauliflower Fried Rice
• Vietnamese Chicken Banh Mi Rolls
• Chicken and Corn Chinese Soup

San Choy Bow Lettuce Wraps are so easy to make, and an easy midweek healthy dinner. With a million ways to customize the recipe, who needs take out? Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2017, updated April 2024