Lettuce Hand Rolls

When I shared my plan to make 100 new dinners in 2013, the first thing I was asked was "are you going to blog about your list?" Initially, the answer was no. Then, the more I started thinking about it, the more I realized that dinner is probably the place where most parents need a little extra help in the kitchen. There are more oatmeal cookie recipes available then we could possibly need, but to weed out decent weeknight dinners can be a little bit more of a challenge, no?

So, how about this? I have a column in the right side of the blog and I'll update it every time I make a new dinner. That way, when you're feeling stumped, there's a place to go where you'll find nothing but a collection of the newest dinners we've eaten this year. 

It's safe to say you can expect to find pasta meals, one-pot dishes, meals for entertaining, simple soups, hot and cold sandwiches, chicken, seafood, pizza, and pork. There's certain to be meatballs in the roster, and orzo, not to mention burritos, quiche, and curry. 

If you're making something worth sharing these days, please feel free to link in the comments and together we can work towards fighting the good fight against the everyday question "what should I make for dinner?"

Lettuce Hand Rolls

This recipe is adapted from the now-defunct Cookie magazine. It makes enough to feed 4-6 people and goes nicely with a side of rice. Feel free to replace the pork with ground turkey or chicken, and if you don't have Chinese five-spice powder on hand you can use allspice in it's place. 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1lb. ground pork 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 8-10 lettuce leaves (Bibb or leaf lettuces work well)
• 1 carrot, peeled and grated
• 1 cucumber, julienned

1. Whisk together the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Chinese five-spice powder and set aside. 

2. Heat the oil a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the pork and stir, breaking up the pieces as it cooks. 

3. When the meat is lightly browned, pour the sauce in the pan and cook until the pork is cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.

4. Scoop the pork mixture into the lettuce leaves and garnish with shredded carrot and sliced cucumbers. 

5. Serve with dipping sauce, if desired.

Soy Dipping Sauce

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced

Whisk all of the ingredients together, stirring until the sugar dissolves.  

Comments

[Julie]

Brilliant! Love your new concept - and pork lettuce rolls! Great idea, and I'll be chiming in with new dinner ideas too!

[Janet]

I am glad there will be a place for us to find these new meals. Thanks for the sidebar link :)

Have a beautiful day!

[Kelly @ City Mom]

Cool recipe! Reminds me of something I would eat in South Korea while I spent a year there!

[Jan Scott]

Thanks, Kelly! Its a pretty tasty dinner. 

[Aimee @ Simple Bites]

Looks fresh and tasty, Jan. Much brighter than the 3-bean chili we had for dinner.;)

[Christine]

This is one of our family's fav things to eat! My Korean students introduced this to us a few years ago. They like to use Gochujang with it as well :) That sweet, spicy sauce! Yum! Thanks for sharing! I'm going to make this sometime this week!

[Jan Scott]

Thanks, Christine! I hope you like them....