This Valentine's weekend, skip the crowded restaurants and create a romantic and delicious meal at home with this flavorful and impressive dish.These Chicken Lettuce Wraps, featuring a colorful rainbow vegetable stir-fry and a luscious glaze made from our homemade Roasted Hot Bell Pepper Sauce, are both impressive and intimate. It's a delicious and healthy way to celebrate, proving that the best Valentine's Day moments often happen at home, around a table filled with love (and a little bit of spice!)."
Part 1: Roasted Hot Bell Pepper Sauce
Yield: 2 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs ForestFoods Hot Bell Peppers, seeded and roughly chopped
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, peeled
3 Tomatoes (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1-2 teaspoons sugar (or honey/maple syrup) - adjust to taste
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
Prepare the Vegetables: Preheat your oven to 200°C. On a large baking sheet, toss the chopped hot bell peppers, onion, garlic, and optional tomatoes with olive oil. Spread in a single layer.
Roast the Vegetables: Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred.
Blend the Sauce: Carefully transfer the roasted vegetables (and any accumulated juices) to a blender. Add the apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, sugar (or alternative sweetener), salt, pepper, and liquid smoke (if using).
Puree: Blend until smooth, or to your desired consistency.
(Optional) Simmer the Sauce: For a thicker sauce and to meld the flavors further, pour the blended mixture into a saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Season and Store: Taste the hot sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may want to add more salt, sugar, vinegar, or spices. Let the hot sauce cool completely. Transfer to sterilized jars or bottles and store in the refrigerator. (You'll likely have leftover sauce, which is great for other meals!)
Part 2: Chicken Wraps
Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
Filling:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or canola, avocado)
1/2 kg ground chicken
1/2 cup finely chopped ForestFoods Shallots - Mixed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 cup grated ForestFoods Carrots - Rainbow
1 cup finely shredded Cabbage - ForestFoods Cabbage - White
1/4 cup finely diced ForestFoods Pepper - Hot Bell
1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (optional, for sweetness and depth of flavor)
2-4 tablespoons Roasted Hot Bell Pepper Sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for thickening the sauce)
Optional Additions:
1/4 cup finely chopped ForestFoods Finger Chili
Wraps & Garnish:
1 head ForestFoods Lettuce - Claragio leaves carefully separated and washed
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts or cashews (for garnish)
Optional: Fresh cilantro or chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions:
Prepare the Lettuce: Carefully separate the Lettuce Claragio leaves, trying to keep them whole. Wash them thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels. Set aside.
Cook the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until it's fully cooked through and no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off any excess fat.
Add Aromatics: Add the finely chopped shallots, minced garlic, and minced ginger to the wok with the chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the shallots are softened and fragrant.
Add Vegetables: Add the grated carrots, finely shredded cabbage, and diced Hot Bell Pepper to the wok. Stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly softened but still retain some crispness. If using the optional Finger Chili, add it now along with the other vegetables.
Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce (if using), your chosen hot sauce (start with 2 tablespoons and add more to taste), and black pepper.
Combine and Thicken (Optional): Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetable mixture in the wok. Stir well to combine. If you want a thicker sauce, whisk the cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) with the cold water until smooth, then add this slurry to the wok. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency (about 1-2 minutes).
Taste and Adjust: Taste the filling and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more hot sauce for extra heat, soy sauce for saltiness, or hoisin sauce for sweetness.
Assemble the Wraps: Place a spoonful of the chicken filling onto each lettuce leaf.
Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped peanuts or cashews (and optional cilantro or green onions) over the filling. Serve immediately. The lettuce wraps are best enjoyed fresh.
Perfect Pairings
Steamed ForestFoods Broccoli Florets: Toss broccoli florets with a little salt and steam until tender-crisp.
Steamed White Rice: Steamed white rice provides a neutral base to absorb the flavors of the wraps.
Quick Cucumber Salad: Thinly slice a cucumber. In a bowl, whisk together a splash of rice vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Toss the cucumber slices in the dressing. That's it! This provides a refreshing, crunchy, and acidic counterpoint to the wraps.
Crisp White Wine: A dry, crisp white wine cuts through the richness of the dish and complements the spicy notes of the hot sauce without being overpowered. The wine's acidity also enhances the vegetables' flavors.
Bring Your Veg Box to Life with ForestFoods
At ForestFoods, we are truly passionate about delivering regeneratively grown, incredibly nutrient-dense produce. We believe that fresh, high-quality ingredients are the key to unlocking culinary creativity, and this recipe is designed to showcase the amazing flavors found right in your veg box.
We'd love to see your culinary masterpieces! If you give this recipe a try, please share your creations with us on social media – be sure to tag us. It's inspiring to see how you're making the most of your ForestFoods veg box.
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