Spicy Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Yesterday was a glorious day of which I spent most lazing about in the sun. Then I trekked a mile to the store to grab fresh produce and a mile back, snapping photos along the way. By the time I got home, it was about 8pm and I was starving, so rather than follow a recipe, I threw this together last-minute. I apologize for not having exact measurements, but here's what I used:

Ingredients

• approx. 1 Tbsp peanut oil

• approx. 1 Tbsp agave syrup

• whole romaine lettuce leaves

• 1/2 white onion, sliced

• approx. 1/4 cup fresh ginger, sliced

• approx. 1 cup green napa cabbage, sliced 

• 1 carrot, sliced

• 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced

• 1 jalapeño, sliced

• approx. 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1/2 can coconut milk

• approx. 3/4 lb chicken breast, cut into small pieces

• Spices: cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne powder, dried crushed garlic

• green onion, chopped

• fresh cilantro

• fresh mint

• rice noodles

Step 1.  Caramelize onion in peanut oil on med-high heat.

Step 2. Slice ginger and stir in at med heat. Cook long enough for peanut oil to absorb flavor.

Step 3. Add spices; stir to coat onion and ginger. 

Step 4. Add coconut milk and peanut butter. Stir until smooth consistency.

Step 5. Put cabbage and carrot into small saucepan of shallow boiling water.

Step 6. Add chicken to peanut sauce. Stir to coat and place lid over pan to cook on med. heat for approximately 20 minutes, or however long enough to thoroughly cook chicken.

Step 7. Chop bell pepper, jalapeño, and fresh herbs.

Step 8. Once cabbage and carrots seem slightly soft, remove from heat and drain water.

Now is a good time to  place the rice noodles in boiling water. Remove lid from fully-cooked chicken and simmer to allow peanut sauce to thicken while the rice noodles cook.

Step 9. After noodles are cooked and drained, stir the chicken and peanut sauce. It also wouldn't hurt to double- and triple-check to see that the chicken is fully cooked.

Step 10. Arrange plate with lettuce leaves on one side, fresh herbs and peppers on other, and the rice noodles, chicken, and steamed veggies in the center. Eat  as lettuce wraps. :)

Another option is you can shred the lettuce and place the rice noodles, steamed veggies, and chicken over the lettuce, drizzle the remaining peanut sauce over your salad, then sprinkle it with the remaining fresh herbs and peppers.

いただきます！