http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1906
Ingredients
1 to 2 tablespoons canola oil*
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup finely chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 (8-ounce) package baked tofu, oriental or teriyaki style, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon finely chopped mint
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained*
1/4 cup hoisin sauce, plus more for dipping*
1 head butter lettuce
Lime wedges
Method
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, zucchini and carrots and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tofu, mint, green onions and water chestnuts. Add 1/4 cup of the hoisin sauce and let simmer 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and serve tofu mixture with lettuce leaves for wrapping, lime wedges for squeezing and additional sauce for dipping, if you like.
This is a fresh, easy and delectable dish which was perfect for my boyfriend and I on New Year's Eve. I recommend a substitution of persian cucumber for zucchini to give the dish a more juicy and crunchy texture. I also recommend a substitution of dried bean curd for fresh tofu for a unique, savory flavor. Dried bean curd is a simple way to kick this dish up a notch. It's one of my favorite Chinese ingredients and can be found in any Asian supermarket. One final substitution I recommend is cilantro for mint, which gives the dish a more zesty instead of cooling character. I just sprinkled the top of the onion, carrot, persian cucumber, green onion, and dried bean curd mixture with the cilantro. Then I used a mixture of fresh organic peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and garlic salt to create a hoisin-like dipping sauce for the lettuce wraps. We ran out of butter lettuce leaflets so you should buy an extra head of lettuce just in case to avoid running out when you serve this dish. Also, the butter lettuce leaflets tend to be quite soft so if you desire a crunchier wrap, you can use iceberg lettuce.
Last notes- this dish is fun to prepare as it requires lots of fine chopping and mixing ingredients, so prepare to have fun. It is even more fun to eat. The crunchiness of the water chestnuts contrasts the savoriness of the dried bean curd, and the juiciness of the vegetable mixture and lettuce wrap. Paired with four-cheese blend quesadillas, the lettuce wraps are a great, upbeat dish perfect for a romantic dinner at home or a party. I hope you try it out!
