Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps | Paleo & Gluten Free
It’s Saturday as I’m writing this, one thirty in the afternoon and it’s the first time I’ve sat down since I woke up this morning. Weekends are for relaxing (aren’t they? Or do I have that wrong?). My weekends are more work than my weekdays lately. I have two days to clean the house, run errands (grocery shopping), spend time with my toddler (who is a full-time job) and work on Love and Duck Fat.
On Sunday I cook as much as I can to make sure we have healthy, home-cooked meals for the week. This Thai beef lettuce wrap recipe is one of our new favorites.
Gluten-Free, Paleo, Real Food, Organic, Grass-fed…however you want to label them; these beef lettuce wraps are a delicious, healthy recipe to add to your weekday meal lineup. I like to make a double batch of the beef filling and use it for dinner one night, and then use the leftovers in an Asian beef salad the next day.
Beef lettuce wraps are light, flavorful and full of crunchy texture. They are easy to make too. I usually keep a few pounds of grass-fed, organic ground beef in my freezer to pull out for meals later in the week. Ground beef is one of those versatile, affordable staples that make a busy schedule just a little easier.
When life is busy (and a little overwhelming) in times like these, you know what I do? More!
Yep. I committed to working out 20 minutes a day on top of everything else so I can manage my stress and get in better shape. I’m almost through my first week, and it’s hard, but I need to do something for myself–even if a toddler is climbing all over me while I’m trying to do yoga.
It’s a lot to handle, and sometimes I think I should just quit Love and Duck Fat for a while—I mean, why am I here? I’m certainly not getting paid (much beyond expenses) for my time, and blogging takes a LOT of my time. There’s recipe creating, cooking, photographic, photo editing, writing, social media promotion, emails to answer, blog maintenance.
I’m not complaining. After all, I started this blog and I’m very proud of it. I’m compelled to keep doing it—and maybe someday it will lead to something that would make the hours worthwhile in a more monetary sense. That would be nice…to be valued enough for what I do to get paid for it so I don’t have to go to that OTHER job where I feel like what I’m doing could be done by anyone.
Love and Duck Fat is all mine, and that’s why I’m taking the few quiet moments of my day (when my son is napping) to sit here and share this Thai beef lettuce wrap recipe with you. I would love to hear what you think about handling a busy schedule, priorities and blogging. You do you do it? Please share in the comments!
Ingredients
- 16 lettuce leaves *see note
- 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2-inch piece ginger, grated or minced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef (grass-fed if possible)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can water chestnuts, chopped
- 6 ounces white mushrooms, small dice
- 2 tablespoons soy or tamari sauce (wheat free)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 lime
- Salt & ground black pepper
- 2 scallions, finely sliced
- 3 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon coconut palm sugar or maple syrup
- Sriracha if desired
Method
Rinse the lettuce leaves and pat dry, keeping them whole by cutting the stalk and peeling away the leaves one by one.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan and add the chili flakes and ginger. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 5-6 minutes, until soft. Add the beef and sauté beef until nearly cooked. If using Grass-Fed beef it is usually lower in fat and you may not need to drain the grease.
Add the garlic, water chestnuts, mushrooms, soy sauce, fish sauce to the beef mixture. Cook until mixture is lightly browned.
Cut half the lime and squeeze juice over the beef mixture. Slice the remaining lime and use as garnish. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
Garnish with scallions and serve with lettuce leaves and optional dipping sauce.
Mix all ingredients together and stir until combined. Garnish with scallions.
http://loveandduckfat.com/thai-beef-lettuce-wraps-paleo-gluten-free/
We don’t typically eat Paleo or Gluten Free in our house, but this sounds truly delicious!! Yum!
I pretty much eat the paleo diet so this recipe is right up my alley. I am going to try this one night for my Hubs and myself.
Terry recently posted…Newly Rebranded Giveaway ~ Somatique Has Changed Their Name To Somaluxe
This sounds and looks really tasty.I have just eaten and i am hungry now lol.
kay adeola recently posted…Music Monday.
Oh, I LOVE lettuce wraps – so crisp and refreshing! And these look amazing! Thanks for a great recipe!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication recently posted…Three Things I Did This Weekend That Made My Life Easier
The lettuce wrap looks really delicious. I do the vegan version alot
Veronica recently posted…Decorating with Black
That looks really healthy and like it wouldn’t taste that bad.
Amber Nelson recently posted…Kanye West Gives Wheelchair-Bound Fan a Mic at Concert
Sharing this recipe with my daughter! She has been complaining about how boring her gluten free diet is (she has celiac.) This looks like something she would love.
These sound so good and perfect if your watching carbs due to health issues.
becca recently posted…Playing Dress Up
This looks like a nice lunch to prepare when company is over! I betcha’ everyone in my house would love it if I put it on the table!
Rosey recently posted…Wyndham Lake Buenta Vista Resort (perfect for a Disney World vacation!)
Oh now I know a few people who would love to get eating this! It sounds delicious. x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Like Love Loathe #17
These wraps look delicious and I know that the fact that they are not on bread cuts down on carb consumption.
Tough Cookie Mommy recently posted…My Nephew Is Headed To High School!
My boys were just complaining that we need to eat more beef. I will definitely give this a try even though I know they meant burgers. This is more to my liking – gluten free is great.
I need to try more of these type of recipes and use a lettuce wrap instead of bread to decrease my carb intake. This looks delicious.
Pam recently posted…Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Makes My Life Easy
Paleo recipes are always so tasty! I was paleo for awhile.
Krystal’s Kitsch recently posted…#ad Chicken Dinner Ideas: Southwestern Chicken Salad #SummerofGiving #shop
I so want to give this a try. I love lettuce wraps but have never had it like this before. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Amanda @ Growing Up Madison recently posted…Bluum 29 Month Old Box – June 2014
Mmmm, I would absolutely love this meal. There’s something about lettuce wraps which totally appeals to me.
Liz Mays recently posted…Summertime Sandwiches – Zesty Italian Hero
My weekdays and weekends are just as hectic. Everything looks delicious!
I have always wanted to try Thai food. That looks really good.
Dawn recently posted…10 Insanely Good Waffle Recipes
I am obsessed with lettuce wraps! These look delicious! Can you just become my personal chef? No? ok but if I win the lottery I’m still going to try to hire you.
Alice Chase recently posted…Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie Celebrates its 25th Anniversary
It’s so great when food can b wrapped in something yummy and enjoyed. Sometimes you need a break from bread and other food covers.
Onica {MommyFactor} recently posted…Our Unplanned Playdate with Taye Diggs – WordFUL Wednesday