I made a batch of my brother's recipe for easy tofu lettuce wraps. Whether you're a meat lover, vegetarian or vegan, this is a recipe you'll love, I promise!
I've always loved lettuce wraps from PF Changs. Even before I liked lettuce (yes, there was a time...), I still liked lettuce wraps. When my brother came to live with us this summer, he had already been a vegetarian for over a year. He and my dad decided to try their hand at a vegan diet for a few month. During that time, my brother made us these tofu lettuce wraps.
Tofu can be a bit tricky to make well which is why a lot of people don't ever develop a taste for it. And to be honest, it doesn't have much of a taste to begin with, so seasoning is absolutely necessary! After learning to make these tofu lettuce wraps, I'm confident that I could enjoy tofu on a much more regular basis.
The trick to this tofu dish is the way the tofu is prepared. Tofu comes in a big block that is usually soaking in some water within the packaging. The trick is to remove a lot of that excess water by placing the tofu under a paper towel and placing something heavy on top to squish out as much water as possible.
Then the next trick is how to cook it. A lot of the time tofu is cooked in larger pieces, but this recipe uses the tofu in as small of pieces as you can get it. Once those tiny pieces are fried up, they might as well be chicken 😉
Lettuce wraps typically are thought of as an appetizer, but if you serve these easy tofu lettuce wraps with a salad and some brown rice, you have a full meal right there. Next week I'll be sharing the recipe for the crispy vegetable roll salad that pairs perfectly with these lettuce wraps!
Have you ever cooked with tofu?
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Easy Tofu Lettuce Wraps
Whether you're a meat lover, vegetarian or vegan, this is a lettuce wrap recipe you'll love. This easy recipe is quick and takes only a few ingredients!
Ingredients
- 16 oz extra firm tofu
- 1 head of lettuce
- 2 T. teriyaki sauce
- 1 T. soy sauce
- 1 t. rice wine vinegar
- 1 t. ground ginger
- 1 t. cornstarch
- 1 T. Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, garnish, optional
- Shredded carrots, garnish, optional
Instructions
- Cut tofu in half lengthwise, then cut ¼" thick slices
- Lay flat cutting board, place two paper towels on top of slices and place a heavy object on top
- Let sit for 3-5 minutes absorbing liquid
- Discard paper towels
- Add tofu to frying pan with a little cooking oil on medium heat
- Using a fork, break tofu into tiny pieces as it cooks
- Cook until tofu begins to brown
- Add remaining sauces/vinegars and spices to pan and stir to combine
- Break apart head of lettuce and rip lettuce pieces in half if they are too large
- Spoon tofu onto lettuce wrap, sprinkle with sesame seeds and/or carrots if desired
- Serve immediately
Notes
Make sure to remove excess liquid from tofu before cooking.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
OurMiniFamily says
Hubby loves ordering lettuce wraps when we go out to eat--I should totally surprise him and make these at home. Thanks for the inspiration (and we're excited to see Kung Fu Panda 3, too!!!)
Madison says
Yes! He'd love that I'm sure 🙂
Laura Jean Gilleland says
Lettuce wraps are my favorite, especially when I use lettuce as a substitution for bread. To be honest, I have never tried tofu. Maybe now is the time to venture out!
Madison says
My mom does that a lot with burgers! I love these lettuce wraps though, and this is the perfect way to try to brand out to tofu!
Iryna says
I've never tried lettuce wrap at PF Chang's, but I definitely like your version. I love trying new tofu recipes.
Madison says
They're sooo good from PF Chang's but these are honestly such a good substitute at home!
Iryna says
I'm gonna try it. I love vegan recipes. My parents are going to grocery store, I told them to stock up on some tofu:)
Mar says
I recently discovered tofu and love making lettuce wraps with tofu. It's so tasty if you marinade it in teriyaki, and also a lot less expensive that ground turkey or chicken.
Madison says
Totally. I really enjoy making these! They're super quick and tasty.
Cristina says
That looks so yummy! Lettuce wraps are always a big hit around here, maybe I'll try some sriracha-less ones!
Madison says
Yes! You can definitely skip the sriracha!
Sarah @ Belle in the City says
Oh I am for sure adding this to my list of recipes to try! I love tofu and these lettuce wraps look amazing!
http://www.belleinthecityblog.com
Madison says
Thanks Sarah! I hope you enjoy them.
Elizabeth Mayberry says
Oh girl! these look so good! I LOVE lettuce wraps!
Madison says
Me too! These are so tasty.
Jenna Owens (@aSavoryFeast) says
Mmm! I don't think I've ever tried cooking tofu myself. These lettuce wraps sound so good though. I like your idea of pairing them with salad and rice for a full meal.
Madison says
This is the perfect way to start with tofu!
Hayley says
I love lettuce wraps! We always get some when we go to PF Chang's! I don't know if I'm brave enough to cook with tofu, but these look so yummy!
Madison says
They're my favorite! Seriously you can't even tell that it's tofu in this recipe!