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Tuesday 10 January 2012

Korean Beef in Lettuce Leaves

I am currently on a bit of a health-kick which means I'm trying to make it to the gym more often, curbing my alcohol consumption (don't worry...just for the month of January), and hunting for recipes that are lower in calories yet still taste delicious. This recipe is a review from my latest 'new fave' cookbook, The Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello.  After making this I would recommend some slight modifications.  One of the changes is inspired by a trip to San Francisco last summer where vast quantities of Dim Sum and beef in lettuce cups were consumed.  The cookbook recommends using Boston lettuce but at City View Restaurant, where our Dim Sum feast took place, the beef was served in iceberg lettuce leaves, neatly trimmed with pinking shears.  The perfect zigzagged edge made for a great presentation but I also recommend Iceberg as it is more cup-like, making it less likely that the filling will spill out on to your new sweater.  Iceberg lettuce also provides a crispier, crunchier texture than Bibb or Boston lettuce.  The second modification that I would highly recommend is upping the spice-factor by adding chili flakes, hot sauce (such as sriracha or sambal olek), or spicy garlic chili paste. Since I like it hot, I used all three!  

Adapted From: The Flat Belly Cookbook

4 Servings (3 per serving)

Nutrition per Serving (without modifications)
379 calories
26 g protein
18 g carbs
23 g fat
4 saturated fat
3 g fibre

3 tbsp 100% orange marmalade (in my opinion this made the recipe!)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, grated
pinch of chili flakes
1 tsp Siracha
1 tsp sambal oelek
1/4 cup canola oil
1 lb lean extra-lean ground beef
8 green onions, sliced (white and greens divided)
2 carrots, finely diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
Boston Lettuce or Iceberg Lettuce leaves

In a small bowl stir together, marmalade, soy sauce, hoisin, ginger, garlic and chili flakes, sauces or pastes. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, add beef and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.  Next add carrots and cook for 5 minutes.  Add yellow pepper, whites of onions, and soy sauce mixture and cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in greens of onions and cook for 1 minute. 

Spoon beef mixture into lettuce leaves and enjoy!

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