PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Chicken lettuce wraps is a copycat recipe from PF Chang’s restaurant, its their best selling signature appetizer. These lettuce wraps are both healthy and yummy. It can be easily made at home in less than 30 minutes ( time includes homemade Hoisin Sauce recipe making time). With homemade hoisin sauce, its totally guilt free wraps, and tastes so much better. Chicken lettuce wraps can be served as an appetizer or as an main course. Recipe includes detailed instructions with stepwise pictures and tips.

When ever we visited P.F. Chang’s, we always start the meal with their very popular chicken lettuce wraps. All their dishes which I’ve had are delicious, but the wraps are clearly my favorite and for many others. I did not realize how quick and easy it is to make these wraps, until I tried making at home. So addictive and tastes so much better.

Definitely homemade hoisin sauce is a highlight in this recipe. You can easily prepare chicken within minutes if you have the hoisin sauce made ahead of time. I usually make the hoisin sauce and have it in my refrigerator, because I use a lot in my Asian recipes. No addictive’s added to the sauce and made with pantry ingredients in less than 10 minutes. You can alternate this recipe with store brought hoisin sauce as well.

How can I make homemade hoisin sauce?

It is a simple two step recipe using basic ingredients from your pantry and make it in less than 10 minutes. Absolutely no addictive’s added, taste and texture is much better than store brought sauce. For the recipe of how to make the hoisin sauce with stepwise pictures, check the link below.

• Homemade Hoisin Sauce Recipe.

What is water chestnuts used in the recipe?

• Eleocharis dulcis, the Chinese water chestnut or water chestnut, is a grass-like sedge native to Asia. It is grown in many countries for its edible corms.

Where can I find these water Chestnuts ?

• I used canned water chestnuts from Walmart. You can find these canned (or in a jar) water chestnuts in any grocery store like Target, Safeway, any Asian groceries or in Amazon online. Usually they sell in a 8 ounce can ( either sliced or whole).  Drain the water content from the can. Chop the required quantity of chestnuts into small pieces, and use it in the recipes .

What variety lettuce are the best for making the wraps?

I’ve used Iceberg lettuce in the recipe which is what many Asian restaurants would serve with the wraps. You can alternatively use Butter lettuce / butter-head lettuce too. Leaves are little flexible in the butter lettuce.

How to make and serve the rice noodles with the lettuce wraps ?

• Buy the thin variety rice noodle, they are sold in Asian market or in any grocery store like Walmart , Target or Safeway in International food section or buy them from Amazon online.
• Heat enough oil in the pot / kadai . Once the oil is hot, break the noodle into two and put it into the hot oil and fry till it puffs up ( take few seconds only) . Drain the fried noodles on the paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Serve the noodles on the sides with the chicken and lettuce, or layer the bed of noodles on the bottom of the plate, then add the chicken on top the noodles and serve the lettuce on the sides. When eating, garnish the fried noodles on the top of chicken placed on the lettuce for crunchy texture, and eat immediately. Fried noodles gives a good crunchiness for every bite.

Serving suggestions

• Serve the chicken , chopped lettuce, sauce and fried noodles separately on a plate ( like shown in the picture below).
• You could also serve the fried noodles on the bottom of the plate ( like a bed of noodles), then place the chicken on top of the noodles and serve the sauce and lettuce on the sides.
• Thirdly you can place each lettuce separately and place the chicken on each lettuce ( like shown in the profile picture), drizzle with some sauce/ and garnish with fried noodles and serve/ eat immediately.

Storing and reheating instructions

• Store any leftovers in a clean dry air tight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. Do not store the lettuce  filled with chicken, it will become soggy. Store chopped lettuce, and chicken separately, and the fried noodles separately in a zip lock / air tight box to retain crunchiness ( noodles does not need refrigeration).
• When serving, place the bowl of chicken in the microwave and heat it on high power covered with a lid for 2 to 3 minutes or heat just until warm depending upon the quantity. Do not microwave very hot, chicken will become dry and will loose its texture / taste. Later you can serve chicken, lettuce , noodles and sauce separately.

What is the sauce served on the side with the chicken lettuce wraps?

• Sauce recipe is given below, this sauce is a commonly used sauce which can be served as a sides to many Chinese / Asian dishes like dumplings, wontons , any wraps, noodles, fried rice, any Chinese food appetizer, and many more.
• For these chicken lettuce wraps, drizzle the sauce on the chicken before eating. The juiciness from the sauce, taste from the chicken and lettuce combined gives an addictive flavor and excellent texture.
• You can add water and dilute the sauce from the given recipe to your preferences.

Can I make these lettuce wraps with other meats or vegetable proteins ?

Absolutely yes, I have made these wraps as 100 % vegetarian using soya chunks ( textured vegetable proteins – TVP). It is super healthy and taste so delicious, a great meat substitute. Recipe with stepwise pictures is given, check the link below ( picture below is the TVP wraps from the blog).

• PF Chang’s Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

If using any other meats ?

Make sure to use a minced meat or buy meat which is already minced and sold in the groceries frozen section. Cook / sauté the meat with pepper and salt until its completely cooked, cooking time may vary for different meat. After cooking the meat, add chestnuts sauce and spring onions.

Other Chinese cuisine recipe, I’ve listed few below. For the complete list of the recipe check the link here – Chinese Cuisine recipes

• Veggie Fried Rice
• Gobi Manchurian Gravy
• Easy Vegetable Noodles Recipe
• Wow Bao Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Bao – Instant Pot, A complete guide given with video and stepwise pictures.

Step by step pictures of how to make the chicken lettuce wraps?

Ingredients required – Sesame oil , minced garlic , ground chicken meat , pepper powder , salt , yellow chopped onions , minced garlic , chopped water chestnuts , soy sauce ,rice vinegar , prepared hoisin sauce , green portion of the spring onions , lettuce and fried noodle for garnishing.

Add sesame oil in a wide pan / wok and heat. Once hot add the grounded chicken , pepper powder , and salt and sauté for five minutes .

Now add chopped yellow onions and minced garlic and sauté for two minutes .

Add chopped water chestnuts and sauté for one minute.

Add Soy sauce ,rice vinegar and prepared homemade hoisin sauce, and sauté for two minutes. Switch off the flame and remove the pan from heat.

Finally garnish with chopped green spring onions.

Mixing the sauce

In a bowl combine all the ingredients under sauce, and mix / whisk well. Serve on the side with the chicken and lettuce and drizzle on the chicken before eating.