Beef Lettuce Cups Lime (Printer-Friendly)

Ground beef infused with garlic, ginger, and lime served in crisp lettuce cups with fresh herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small red chili, finely chopped (optional)
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
08 - 1 tablespoon fish sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
10 - Zest and juice of 1 lime
11 - 1 carrot, grated
12 - 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
13 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Assembly

14 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
15 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
16 - Lime wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Warm vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté garlic and ginger for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef, break it apart with a spatula, and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Stir in scallions, red chili (if using), soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
04 - Mix in lime zest, lime juice, grated carrot, and diced red bell pepper; continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and fold in chopped cilantro.
05 - Spoon the beef mixture evenly into lettuce leaves and top with chopped peanuts and additional cilantro as preferred.
06 - Present immediately alongside lime wedges for added brightness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes from start to finish, and most of that is just prep.
  • The beef tastes complex and aromatic without feeling heavy or complicated.
  • You get to assemble them yourself at the table, which always feels like a small celebration.
02 -
  • If you skip the fish sauce thinking it tastes bad, you'll end up with something that tastes flat—trust it, you won't taste fishiness, just depth.
  • Don't cook the cilantro; stir it in after you remove the pan from heat so it stays bright and alive.
03 -
  • If you're prepping ahead, cook the filling, then assemble the cups just before serving—a soggy lettuce cup is nobody's favorite.
  • Toast your peanuts in a dry skillet for 2 minutes right before serving; they stay crunchier and taste fresher than ones that have been sitting.

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