Potsticker-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Boats (Printable Version)

Juicy ginger-chicken filling with crispy caramelized edges served in refreshing lettuce cups.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Filling

01 - 1 pound ground chicken
02 - 1 cup finely shredded Napa cabbage
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
08 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Sriracha or chili garlic sauce, optional
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

→ For Crispy Edges

11 - 2 tablespoons neutral oil such as canola or avocado oil

→ Assembly

12 - 12 large butter lettuce or Bibb lettuce leaves, washed and dried
13 - 1 small carrot, julienned
14 - 1/4 cup shredded purple cabbage
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Dipping Sauce

16 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
17 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
18 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
19 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
20 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, shredded Napa cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, Sriracha if using, and white pepper. Mix until well combined.
02 - Heat neutral oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken mixture in an even layer and allow to cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes to develop crispy edges.
03 - Stir and continue cooking, breaking up the chicken with a spatula, until fully cooked and golden brown in spots, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, sesame oil, and chili flakes if using.
05 - Spoon chicken filling into each lettuce leaf. Top with julienned carrot, shredded purple cabbage, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
06 - Serve immediately with dipping sauce on the side.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Those caramelized, crispy edges happen in one skillet and make the whole filling taste like it's been folded into something fancy.
  • It's the kind of dish that lets you eat a ton without feeling weighed down, so you actually want seconds.
  • The ginger-garlic-sesame flavor combo is so addictive that even people who claim they're not adventurous end up asking for the recipe.
02 -
  • If you stir the chicken too early, you won't get those crispy edges—resist the urge to fuss with it for those first few minutes.
  • Wet lettuce leaves will fall apart, so dry them well after washing or the whole thing becomes messy and sad.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken mixture into a thin, even layer in the skillet before cooking—thinner means more surface area for crisping, which is where all the flavor happens.
  • If your filling seems dry after cooking, you probably overworked it when mixing; keep your hand movements gentle and stop as soon as everything is combined.
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