Easy to make delicious bites size treats, my Vietnamese steak lettuce wraps are packed full of flavour and healthy too.
These little bite size treats full of flavour and a good fieriness from the chillies. They are perhaps one of my favourite things to eat ever. The mindfulness eating opportunities from this dinner are fantastic. From the crunchy lettuce, the hot steak, the smell of the herbs to the spicy and cool chilli dipping sauce you will never be able to eat just one.
Bite size steak treats
It’s such a beautiful dish and on a white plate the colours just pop out. As they can be made in advanced if you don’t mind cooler steak, or made when hot they can be customised to taste. I love the fresh chilli and radish for the fieriness in mine. Tomatoes add a juiciness to the steak in the lettuce wrap.
Using the lettuce leaves to wrap the precious ingredients in makes it quick and easy to make but also reduces the washing up too. It’s also nice when they’re being served as a canapé as you don’t need to provide a plate.
Which Lettuce is best for wraps?
Little gem lettuces work incredibly well as they are a great size for bite size wraps. They also have a great fresh flavour which doesn’t take anything away from the other flavours you add in. I’ve also found they they hold their shapes for the wraps too. Plus they don’t go soggy too quickly which is definitely a bonus.
What sauce for lettuce wraps?
There are so many sauces that work with steak lettuce wraps and other filling wraps, but my favourite is a citrus based one which works with the fresh vegetables. The sweet chilli sauce below is delicious as it really packs a punch of citrus spice. If you like it spicy you can a little more fresh chilli or reduce it if you want it more subtle.
If you like peanuts, a satay sauce will work really well. You can make one which you can drizzle over the lettuce wraps just before serving or have a satay dipping sauce to serve. Check out Feast Glorious Feast for Chloe’s satay sauce. I know I would almost drown mine in satay sauce as it’s so moreish.
How do you make steak lettuce wraps?
Lettuce wraps are really simple to make and consist of taking a whole lettuce leaf (little gems are my favourite and my recommendation), filling them with a mix of fresh vegetables and meat if you fancy it. I go for thin steak slithers or chicken breast which I often cook with pineapple juice and then shred slightly. Build up your favourite flavours for a truely delicious lettuce wrap.
How do you cut lettuce for lettuce wraps?
For the lettuce wraps cut the bottom off the lettuce, taking off any stalk (usually about an inch) and relsease all the leaves. Give them a wash under cool water and leave them to dry.
Vietnamese lettuce wraps
This dish makes me so happy. The colours, the taste and the ease of creating a dish which is so healthy and fresh too. The smell is also incredible from the dipping sauce. It will make your mouth water. It’s great to be able to make these for party food and give people a great healthy treat.
Don’t you just want to pick one out of the photo and try it?! Last time I made these I enjoyed them entirely to myself. A little greedy yes but the bite size treats are unbelivably moreish.
Gluten Free Vietnamese lettuce wraps
What is so great about this dish is that it can easily be made gluten free. Simply use a gluten free fish sauce in the dipping sauce. All the fresh salad and vegetables are gluten free straight away too.
How to make Vietnamese steak lettuce wraps?
1)Make the dipping sauce by mixing all the ingredients together. Peel the leaves off the lettuce. Wash and dry them. Place them on a plate.
2) Chop up the remaining ingredients including the gorgeous peppery raddish and fresh mint and place on a chopping board. Getting everything ready will save you a lot of time when constructed them all.
I decided to use julienne carrots for the Vietnamese lettuce wraps as it still has the gorgeous flavour but is easier in a bite. These need to be easy to eat especially if it’s party food. I think they work really well and the thin strips do really look striking against the green lettuce.
3) Season the steaks with a little salt and pepper on the top side. Preheat a pan to a medium hot heat and cook on each side 70% one side and 30% the other. Cook to your level of medium, raw or well done. Thinly slice the cooked steaks ready for the salad bites.
4) Start assembling the bites. Take the washed lettuce and place on a plate or tray like little boats. Add a few beef slices to the each one.
5) Add a mix of the other ingredients to each one. Making it so you get a great taste. They are then ready to go. Asbolutely delicious. If you’re not sure your guests would like chilli, then you can add a little dish to the serving tray with them on. Leaving it up to people to help themselves.
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Vietnamese steak lettuce wraps
Ingredients
- 2 pack little gem lettuce
- 100 grams cherry tomatoes
- radishes
- 1 chilli
- 1 carrot
- fresh mint handful
- fresh corrainder handful
- 2 rump steaks
- salt and pepper
Dipping Sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 lime
- seasame seeds optional
Instructions
Dipping Sauce
- Mix all the ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved and leave for later. I prefer to leave it at room temperature if I’m serving it soon but it can be left in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Making the beef salad bites
- Take the steaks out of the packets and place on a plate or meatboard. Season both side with salt and pepper
- Peel the leaves off the lettuce. Wash and dry them. Place them on a plate.
- Chop up the remaining ingredients and place on a chopping board
- In a hot non stick pan with a little oil, add the steak and cook on both sides for 2 minutes each if you would like medium cooked. Cook to taste or per instructions on the packet.
- Place on a board and chop into thin slices.
- Start assembling the bites. Add the beef and the other ingredients on to the lettuce.
- Serve when the beef is still warm with the dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
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View my other recipes and see below for other party food ideas.
Focaccia Party Bites with Parma Ham and Peach
Individual Dessert Strawberry & Chocolate Tart Bites
Afternoon Tea Waffle Bites
Marshmallow Chocolate Pops
Fajita Traybake – Mexican Lasagne
Chicken Kiev Potato Salad
Love these! So light and fresh and full of flavour! Yum!
Thank you. They are so good. I need more
These look so good! I’d be happy with a whole plate of them for dinner although they would be great for parties too.
I think that is why they are so good, so versatile and brilliant for parties but also worth making to enjoy alone with a movie.
Oh yummm, these are so fresh and colorful.
Thank you <3
Oh yummy, these look so fresh and colorful.
Thank you Esha x
What I loved about Vietnamese cuisines is that their foods are simple but it contains a lot of flavors. These beef salads looks very delicious and looks spicy too. Will definitely try this cuisine.
I hope you enjoy it.