Asian Lettuce Wraps

Prep: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Ready in: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves
1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tsp. minced pickled ginger
1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
Asian chile pepper sauce (opt.)
1 8-oz. can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 tsp. Asian (dark) sesame oil

DIRECTIONS:
1. Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not to tear them. Set aside.
2. In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef in oil. Add the onion and saute 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar, and chile pepper sauce. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, and sesame oil, and continue cooking until the onions just beginning to wilt, about 5 minutes.
3. Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a large serving platter, and pile meat mixture int eh center. To serve, allow each person to spoon a portion of the meat into a lettuce leaf. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito. Have napkins ready, it can be a bit messy.