Quinoa tossed with diced red bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms then flavored with hoisin sauce and Sriracha and served on butter lettuce. This Asian Quinoa Lettuce Wrap is the perfect appetizer for spring.
Lately, I feel like I’ve been obsessed with lettuce wraps. There’s something about eating your meals in dainty lettuce cups that’s just so darn fun. Butter lettuce is currently my favorite to use since they’re pretty sturdy for wrapping purposes. Plus, I really like that you can get them with the roots still attached so that they can stay fresh for the longest time possible.
My second latest obsession has to be quinoa. Probably because it’s a new food item I’m experimenting with so I want to make everything with it. If possible.
I had butter lettuce sitting in my fridge. I had an opened bag of quinoa begging me to use. What to do?
So ta da! I present to you my Asian Quinoa Lettuce Wraps.
These little do it yourself appetizers are so easy to make. Plus, they’re vegan and gluten-free!
If you’ve cooked quinoa before, then you’re practically set. You can find directions on how to make the perfect fluffy quinoa in this post.
Add olive oil to a small pan and allow the olive oil to heat for about a minute. Next, add the diced red bell peppers, diced onions, and chopped mushrooms to the pan. Cook all three of the ingredients until they’ve softened. Now, add the hoisin sauce, a little bit of sugar, water, and some Sriracha sauce. I mixed a little bit of sugar to balance out the saltiness of hoisin sauce and a little water to thin out the sauce. You can always adjust the flavor to your taste. I also always have Sriracha sauce around just in case I want that spicy kick. Which I always do. But if you don’t like spicy foods, you can always leave the Sriracha sauce out. It’s up to you =)
Remove the pan from heat and toss the cooked quinoa into the pan. Mix thoroughly until the sauce is lightly coating all the ingredients. Add freshly chopped cilantro.
When you’re ready to serve, use a spoon to scoop the Asian Quinoa into each individual lettuce wrap.
Serve the lettuce wraps as appetizers or make more to create a meal.
Enjoy!
I’ll be bringing these to Fiesta Friday!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup diced red peppers
- 2-3 mushrooms, chopped
- ½ cup diced onions
- ⅛ cup hoisin sauce
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 2-3 sprigs cilantro, chopped
- Butter lettuce
- In a small pan, add about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Allow the olive oil to warm for about a minute before adding in the diced red peppers, diced onions, and chopped mushrooms.
- Cook the diced red peppers, onions, and mushrooms until they’ve all softened.
- Now, add the hoisin sauce, a little bit of sugar, water, and Sriracha sauce to the pan. Use a spatula to mix the ingredients until they are well combined.
- Next, add the cooked quinoa. Toss the ingredients together until the sauce has lightly covered all the ingredients.
- When ready to eat, use a spoon to scoop the Asian flavored quinoa into lettuce cups.
- Serve the lettuce wraps as appetizers or make more to create a meal.
jhoudephotography says
Had guests over for dinner yesterday, made these as a finger food appetizer, it was a big winner. Thanks
Andrea| Cooking with a Wallflower says
I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed them!
2ndhalfolife says
Yummy!
Michaela says
looks delicious!!!! 🙂 need to try it!
Deepa Bamrah says
I’m going to try this tomorrow it looks fabulous
Kim@Day7Kitchen says
I like this recipe! So easy yet delicious. I’m pinning a link to this on my blog if you don’t mind!
Andrea| Cooking with a Wallflower says
Hi Kim, go ahead. I don’t mind =) Hope you like it if you get the chance to try it =)
Jhuls says
I love lettuce, but I haven’t tried lettuce wraps. These really sound healthy and good. 🙂
kristenlem says
I’m so making these
Tracey@WhatsforDinnerDoc.com says
I saw the title and photo at Fiesta Friday and I just knew you would be the creative mind behind these. I’m so far behind in reading and commenting but …. Hello and I love this recipe.
Be well, Tracey
badfish says
What a beautiful blog you have. Just lovely. You “liked” me like seconds after I posted, I had to come here to see who you were…and glad I did.