Meatball and Rice Noodle Lettuce Wraps
This Asian inspired recipe for Meatball and Rice Noodle Lettuce Wraps is great as an appetizer or even main course.
This recipe is from a great cookbook I had the pleasure of reviewing Rush Hours Meals by Rose Reisman. Rose Reisman is one of my favourite cookbook authors. Back in 1993 I bought my first Rose Reisman cookbook and the stained, worn out pages are proof of how much I enjoy her recipes. Her book Rush Hour Meals is all about preparing good food even when life gets crazy busy! With a bit of planning feeding your family delicious, nutritious meals is easy. Most of the recipes in this cookbook can be made in 30 minutes or less. One of the first recipes I tried was Meatball and Rice Noodle Lettuce Wraps. Wow, this was so tasty!
These meatballs pack a ton of flavour. I loved how the recipe called for servings them over a bed of lettuce and rice noodles, but they would be great with rice as well.
Party appetizers everyone will love
Add some tasty appetizers to your next party with a collection of these favorites!
Meatball and Rice Noodle Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 3/4 cup canned light coconut milk 185 ml
- 1/3 cup reduced-sodium beef or chicken broth 80 ml
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 10 ml
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce 30 ml
- 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar 10ml
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch 5 ml
- 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger 5 ml
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic 5ml
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha or your favourite hot sauce 5 ml
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef 500g
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce 60 ml
- 1/4 cup finely diced green onion 60 ml
- 1/4 cup unseasoned dry breadcrumbs 60 ml
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves 30 ml
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic 10 ml
- 1 1/2 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger 7ml
- salt and pepper
- 2 ounces dried thin rice noodles 60g
- 10 Boston lettuce leaves
Garnish Ingredients
- 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 60ml
- 2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds 10ml
- 1 tablespoon crushed peanuts 15 ml
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF (220ºC). Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with vegetable oil.
Method for making the sauce
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the coconut milk, stock, lemon juice, hoisin, sugar, cornstarch, ginger, garlic and Sriracha. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Set aside.
Preparing the Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, hoisin, onions, breadcrumbs, cilantro, garlic, ginger, and salt and pepper. Using your hands, form about thirty 1-inch (2.5 cm) meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165º (74ºC) when tested with a cooking thermometer.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, cook the prepared sauce until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan of boiling water, cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain well.
- Top each lettuce leaf with an equal amount of the cooked noodles. Place meatball on top of the noodles and drizzle with the sauce. Garnish with red pepper, sesame seeds and peanuts.
