Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable Version)
Crisp lettuce cups with seasoned beef, crunchy cashews, and fresh veggies in Asian-inspired sauces. Ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried
→ Nuts
07 - ½ cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped
→ Sauces & Condiments
08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
11 - 1 tsp sesame oil
12 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 1 tsp chili sauce (optional, for heat)
→ Garnishes
14 - Fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
15 - Lime wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the garlic and ginger to the pan; stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the carrot, bell pepper, and half of the spring onions. Cook for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
04 - Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce (if using). Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
05 - Stir in the cashews and cook for 1 minute, just to warm them through.
06 - Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
07 - To serve, spoon the beef mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with remaining spring onions and fresh coriander. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The crunch from cashews and crisp lettuce against warm savory beef creates that perfect texture contrast everyone craves
- These come together in under 30 minutes but taste like something you would order at your favorite Asian restaurant
02 -
- Draining excess fat from the beef before adding sauces prevents these cups from feeling greasy or heavy
- Grating the carrot instead of chopping helps it disappear into the filling while still contributing sweetness
03 -
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this completely gluten free
- Iceberg lettuce holds up better than butter lettuce for make your own lettuce cup bars