Martin Yans Lettuce Cups Recipes

Steps:

• Place meat in a bowl with oyster sauce; stir to coat.
• let stand for 10 minutes.
• Soak mushrooms in warm water to cover until softened, about 15 minutes; drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid.
• Trim and discard stems.
• Chop caps.
• Place a wok over high heat until hot.
• Add cooking oil, swirling to coat sides.
• Add ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
• Add meat, stir-fry until meat crumbled and no longer pink (1-3 minutes).
• Add carrot, zucchini, and water chestnuts; stir-fry for 30 seconds.
• Add mushrooms and reserved mushroom soaking liquid.
• Cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add sherry/wine and sesame oil; cook until heated through.
• If using, add walnuts and toss to coat.
• To eat, spread hoisin sauce on a lettuce cup, spoon in meat filling, wrap in lettuce cup, and eat out of hand.
• For spicier palates, top with Asian chili sauce.

Steps:

• For the chicken and marinade: Combine the brown sugar, oil, turmeric, cayenne, coriander, cumin, garlic, lemongrass, onion and 1 tablespoon salt in a food processor and process to a smooth paste. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the marinade for the peanut sauce. Add the remaining marinade to a large bowl with the chicken and toss to combine. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
• For the peanut sauce: Process the peanuts in a food processor until finely ground but not a paste. Transfer the peanuts to a medium saucepan and add the coconut milk, tamarind paste, vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup water and the reserved 2 tablespoons marinade. Bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• For the toppings and serving: Place a fine-mesh sieve over a heatproof bowl near the stove. Process the garlic in a food processor until finally chopped but not a paste. Add the garlic to a medium skillet with the oil and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is light golden brown (be careful not to let it get too dark or it can become bitter), 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately pour the oil and garlic into the sieve and let drain, reserving the garlic oil. Spread the garlic on a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
• Return 2 tablespoons of the garlic oil to the skillet (reserve the rest for another use) and add the peanuts. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the peanuts are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and toss with the brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Let cool completely.
• Heat a 2-burner cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat until evenly hot, about 10 minutes.
• Divide the chicken among twelve 10-inch bamboo skewers, packing the pieces close together. Grill, turning frequently with tongs, until the chicken is caramelized all over and cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Serve the chicken skewers with a platter of the tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce leaves and onions and bowls of rice. Serve the peanut sauce, crispy garlic and sugared peanuts in separate bowls for topping.