Food Allergy Friendly Recipe from Ming Tsai

This refined variation is served in the Blue Ginger lounge.

This is a fun, healthy meal that comes together in minutes. Kids enjoy rolling the lettuce leaves, and you can really put anything you like in them. Leftovers work great here.                                                                              

Chicken Fried Rice Lettuce Wraps
Serves 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 onion, cut into small dice
3 carrots, grated
3 ribs celery, cut into small dice
2 medium tomatoes, cut into small dice
5 cups cold cooked long-grain rice, preferably day-old so it's nice and dry*
1/2 cup sliced scallions for garnish
12 crispy leaves of Bibb lettuce, about the size of a large hand
Canola oil for cooking
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a wok or non-stick sauté pan coated well with oil over high heat, add chicken, season with salt and pepper and stir fry for 3 minutes until just cooked thru.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.  In the same wok, add a touch of oil and add garlic and ginger and stir-fry until soft, about 30 seconds.  Add onions, carrot and celery and stir fry 3 minutes until al dente.  Add the tomatoes and cooked chicken and  stir-fry until hot, about 3 minutes. Add rice and toss thoroughly until heated through. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and check for flavor. Transfer to a platter and serve immediately. Lay out one leaf of lettuce, spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons fried rice onto bottom third of lettuce leaf and garnish with sliced scallions. Starting at fried rice end, roll lettuce leaf tightly, tucking in ends so filling doesn't fall out. Repeat with remaining fried rice and lettuce leaves. Enjoy!

*If you don't have day-old rice, you can arrange cooked rice on a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer to cool and dry. Also, I prefer a brown and white rice combo, which is healthier, and if it's a combo, kids are more likely to eat it than straight brown rice.

Copyright 2009 Ming Tsai  

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