This is a super easy and fast recipe that I like to make for a weeknight meal. This was the second time I made it and I tweaked it just right to the point that it was so very delicious I want to eat it again and again. Which means…it is so very tasty that I needed to share it!

Writing this all out…it looks complicated, but it is not! It is meat, carrot, rice, lettuce, and sauce. The whole meal only took me 30 minutes to make.

Tools:

• Chopping Board
• Knife
• Large Skillet
• Spatula or Spoon
• Small Bowl
• Whisk or Fork

The Meat:

• 1 lb of Ground Meat of choice (grass-fed beef, bison, elk, venison, turkey, chicken)
• Garlic Powder (sprinkle liberally)
• 1 to 1 1/2 tsp of Five Spice (to your taste preference)
• ½ – 1 tsp of Powdered Ginger (to your taste preference)
• 1 – 2 Pinches of Red Pepper Flakes (to your heat preference)
• 1 ½ Large Carrots or 2 Medium Chopped Finely

Optional Veggie Additions: Finely chopped onion (or the white part of green onions) or julienne red bell pepper

The Sauce:

• 1/3 Cup of Liquid Aminos or Coconut Aminos
• 1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup
• 1 to 2 tsp of Toasted Sesame Oil (to your taste preference)
• Juice of 1 Lime
• 1 – 2 Tbs Chopped Pickled Ginger

1 Cup of Cooked Jasmine Rice (I like to cook my rice in broth for added flavor)

Optional Toppings:

• Sesame Seeds
• Green Onions (I used homemade dried chives)
• Cilantro Leaves
• Chopped Avocado

Directions:

Wash and dry lettuce leaves and place on a plate like tiny bowls. I usually double or triple the leaves to make a secure wrapping surface. Finely pre-chop carrots and set aside. If you are adding finely chopped onion or julienned red bell pepper, pre-chop those as well.

Side Note: You can not only pre-chop all your veggies, but you can pre-cook the rice, and pre mix the sauce. This can be much easier for folks…instead of multi-tasking during the cooking process, particularly if it is the first time you’ve made a dish. This is called Mise en Place (MEEZ ahn plahs) it “is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, etc. before you start cooking. Pans are prepared. Mixing bowls, tools and equipment set out.” (Google it).

Over a medium-high heat brown meat of choice in a large skillet (if you use a lean meat you may have to add cooking fat). While browning sprinkle liberally with garlic powder, add the ginger, five spice, and red pepper flakes. Cook through to the point of the meat getting a little crispy.

While the meat is cooking start cooking the rice. If using traditional stove-top rice it takes approximately 30 minutes total. Instructions for the rice I linked to above: bring rice to a boil, stir, cover and reduce heat to low simmer, cook for 15 minutes, turn off heat moving to another burner location, remaining covered…allow to sit for an additional 10 minutes, uncover and fluff with a fork. You can pre-cook rice the day before or you can use a pressure cooker or rice cooker to speed up the rice cooking time.

Once the meat is about ¾ the way cooked, add the finely chopped carrots (and other optional veggies) and continue to cook. Siring occasionally.

While the rice is cooking and meat is browning, assemble the sauce. In a small bowl whisk together the liquid aminos, pure maple syrup, sesame seed oil, lime juice, and chopped pickled ginger. Set aside.

Once the meat is starting to get a bit crispy (the rice should be around 7 minutes from being complete), reduce to a medium heat and pour the sauce over. Stir well. Once the rice is done, turn the heat off under the meat and mix the rice into the meat mixture. This is also the time I added a Tbs+ of homemade dried chives.

Spoon the meat and rice mixture into the lettuce cups/wraps and top with your preferred optional toppings.

Done. Eat. Enjoy.

With the leftovers, I made a salad with avocado, warmed-up and dumped the meat mixture over the top, and used Bragg’s Ginger and Sesame salad dressing. It was sooooo good!

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