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    Home » Appetizers

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Published: Jan 26, 2022 · Modified: Dec 17, 2023 by Angela and Mark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you have ever had Kung Pao Chicken, then you know how flavorful and beautiful it is, melding many flavors together to achieve greatness.

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    We love this rendition of the Chinese classic dish using ingredients that are a bit easier for us to find. Namely we used sake in the marinade and the Mexican chile de árbol for the spicy pepper alongside Szechuan peppercorns. However, there are so many versions of this dish, both in China and in other countries, that you could certainly use variations that you like the most.

    If you are looking for an authentic version of this recipe, check out THIS one.

    Why Lettuce Wraps?

    The crisp cool lettuce contrasts well with the spicy and fragrant Kung Pao Chicken. Of course, you can serve this with a nice fried rice as well and be very happy! We enjoy this dish over white rice or fried rice as well, but we love this interpretation as lettuce wraps.

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs?

    We chose to use chicken breasts here, but we have prepared this several times using thigh meat as well. The sauce is the dominating flavor component, so it really is personal preference. The flavor of thighs is superior, but the texture of the breast is our preference for lettuce wraps. So, with the sauce being the flavor driver, we chose breast meat.

    Don't over-reduce the sauce!

    The other thing that is important when cooking this is to not over-reduce your sauce. With so much soy sauce, and therefore salt, it is prone to becoming too salty. The corn starch is the thickener in this sauce. It’s a quick dish to make, so when you are done, give it a taste, and if it needs a bit more salt then add it at that time.

    Enjoy!

    We hope you enjoy this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps! If you give these a try, leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram @cooking_with_wine!

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Looking for more recipes like this? Check these out:

    • Korean Short Rib Tacos
    • Spicy Ginger Garlic Shrimp Skewers
    • Marinated Skirt Steak Street Tacos
    • Citrus Achiote Chicken Skewers with Pepper Rice

    📖 Recipe

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    We know you will love this super flavorful and slightly spicy recipe for Kung Pao Chicken Lettuce Wraps! Check it out!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 40 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Appetizers
    Cuisine Chinese
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 432 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the Marinade

    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
    • 1 tablespoon sake
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
    • 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (or other chile paste)
    • 2 teaspoon cornstarch
    • 2 lbs chicken breast (3-4 breasts)

    For the Sauce

    • 3 tablespoon light soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
    • 3 tablespoon chicken stock
    • 2 tablespoon sugar
    • 2 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 3 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil, divided
    • 8 whole dried chile de árbol (or other dried red chilies)
    • ½ teaspoon ground Szechuan pepper
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • ⅔ cup roasted unsalted peanuts
    • ⅓ cup green onions, green parts, sliced thin

    For Garnish

    • 1 head Butter Lettuce, thoroughly rinsed and leaves separated
    • Additional green onions, green parts, sliced thin
    • 2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    Marinate the Chicken

    • Combine all the marinade ingredients thoroughly and put it into a zip-top bag. Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes and add to the marinade. Refrigerate for 30-90 minutes only.

    Prepare the sauce

    • Whisk to combine the soy sauces, rice wine vinegar, stock, sugar, sesame oil, pepper and cornstarch in a bowl and set aside. The Szechuan pepper and minced garlic can be combined separately. If you desire a deeper roast on your peanuts, you can toast them for a few minutes in a preheated 375°F oven or fry them in a bit of oil until they darken.

    Cook the chicken

    • When the chicken has finished marinating, remove it from the marinade and set aside. Discard the marinade.
    • Heat a wok (or a large pan) on medium to medium-high and add 2 tablespoon of the canola or grapeseed oil. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is almost completely cooked. Remove the chicken to a bowl and set aside.
    • To the hot wok, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and let it heat up for about 15 seconds. Add the peppers and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the garlic and Szechuan pepper and stir, cooking for only 10 more seconds. Immediately add the sauce and stir, then add the chicken back in and cook until the sauce thickens. This should take about 3-4 minutes. Turn the heat off, stir in the peanuts and green onions and remove to serve. Remove the peppers at this point. The peppers are meant to flavor the dish and not be eaten in the wraps.

    Assemble and Serve

    • Once the chicken is done, serve in a cold lettuce leaf and sprinkle with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 432kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 39gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1054mgPotassium: 845mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1186IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Asian, Chicken
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    Classically trained chef, Mark, and wife and food photographer, Angela, are the cooking duo behind Cooking with Wine! Our goal is to create delicious and approachable recipes that you can make at home. We strive to make every meal special!

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