Tofu Lettuce Wraps

The fresh Asian flavors in these tofu lettuce wraps make a light and delicious meal that is easy to put together, so it’s perfect for a weeknight. Tofu and water chestnuts add incredible texture. 

Tofu lettuce wraps are filled with a delectable and flavorful filling that is a great source of vegan protein and are sure to be a hit. Shaved veggies, lots of ginger and garlic, and rich sauces will have you coming back for more. 

Special Ingredients

  • Hoisin sauce is a thick sweet sauce with loads of umami flavor, commonly used in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. It’s often called “Chinese BBQ sauce” because of its similarities to sweet and sticky BBQ sauce. While many Asian sauces have fish or other animal ingredients, hoisin sauce is typically not made with any animal ingredients.
  • Soy sauce or coconut aminos add a salty tang to the dish. Use coconut aminos if you would prefer. 
  • Sesame oil – Fragrant toasted sesame seeds become a delicious oil that adds loads of toasted flavor to Asian dishes. 
  • Extra-firm tofu – This style of tofu produces good crumbles that have a texture very similar to ground meat. Pressing the tofu helps to remove extra moisture. 
  • Water chestnuts add extra crunch to the lettuce wraps, creating a lovely contrast of textures. 

Lettuce Wraps FAQs:

Can I substitute other styles of tofu for the extra-firm tofu? 

Using extra-firm tofu will give the best texture in this recipe, able to stand up to the sauce and the bold flavors. Extra-firm tofu also most closely resembles the texture of ground meat. If you can’t find extra-firm tofu, firm tofu should work almost as well. 

What if I don’t have fresh ginger or garlic? 

While the brightness of fresh garlic and ginger adds a lot to this dish, dried garlic flakes or powder and ground dried ginger can be used in place of fresh in a pinch. Start with ½ teaspoon of each, and add more as needed to taste. 

What types of lettuce work best for lettuce wraps? 

Lettuce with loose, flexible, large leaves work best for lettuce wraps. While crunchy lettuce types such as romaine can stand up to the filling, they don’t bend well and can break or crack when attempting to fold. On the other hand, lettuce types like Boston (also known as Bibb) and butter lettuce have leaves large enough to hold a good amount of filling but can easily be wrapped and folded. 

What can I substitute for water chestnuts?

Water chestnuts might not be available, or perhaps you don’t like them, and it is perfectly fine to leave them out altogether. Walnuts are also a good substitute for water chestnuts. They won’t have quite the same crunch, but they can add a nice texture to the filling.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

  1. Prepare the sauce by mixing the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl.
  2. Heat the grapeseed oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Then crumble in the tofu. Cook for about 5 minutes, then stir in the water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and half of the green onions for about 1 minute more.
  3. Pour the prepared sauce over the tofu mixture and stir to coat. Cook until the sauce is warmed through, about 1 – 2 minutes.
  4. Spoon the tofu mixture into the large lettuce leaves—top with the remaining green onions and veggies of choice.
TOFU LETTUCE WRAPS

Tofu Lettuce Wraps

Dominique Ebra
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the sauce by mixing the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl.
  • Heat the grapeseed oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Then crumble in the tofu. Cook for about 5 minutes, then stir in the water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and half of the green onions about 1 minute more.
  • Pour the prepared sauce over the tofu mixture and stir to coat. Cook until the sauce is warmed through, about 1 – 2 minutes.
  • Spoon the tofu mixture into the large lettuce leaves—top with remaining green onions and veggies of choice.
Keyword tofu lettuce cups, tofu lettuce wraps