Go Back

Vegetarian Tofu Lettuce Wraps

The same shared lettuce wrap base with pressed, crumbled extra-firm tofu in place of meat, browned golden in the wok before the vegetables and sauce return.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Shared base
  • 1 head butter (Boston) lettuce
  • 8 oz cremini mushrooms, finely minced
  • 1 can (8 oz) water chestnuts, drained and minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 4 green onions, sliced into thin rings
  • Salt, a pinch (for the mushrooms)
  • Cooking oil, for the wok
  • Crispy chow mein noodles, for topping
  • A few extra mushrooms, finely minced
Stir-fry sauce
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Sesame oil
  • Sriracha
  • Water, a splash
Dipping sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Brown sugar
  • Hot mustard, a spoon
Vegetarian protein
  • 14 oz extra-firm tofu, pressed and crumbled

Equipment

  • Large carbon steel wok
  • wooden spatula
  • chef's knife
  • cutting board
  • fine-mesh sieve
  • microplane
  • small bowls
  • clean kitchen towel
  • heavy skillet

Method
 

  1. Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel on a plate. Weigh it down with a heavy skillet to press out the water. Crumble into small irregular pieces in a bowl.
  2. Complete the shared prep: lettuce cups, minced vegetables, both sauces, and the cooked set-aside vegetables, exactly as the chicken version describes.
  3. Fry the tofu crumbles in the oiled wok with a splash of soy sauce. Turn the crumbles until deep golden-brown and slightly crisp at the edges.
  4. Return the vegetables to the wok. Pour in the stir-fry sauce. Simmer until the sauce reduces to a thick glossy dark glaze around the tofu and mushrooms.
  5. Fold in the sliced green onions.
  6. Fill chilled lettuce cups, top with crispy chow mein noodles and remaining green onions, and serve with the dipping sauce.

Notes

Store filling, cups, and dipping sauce separately. Reheat filling in a wok or skillet until hot through. Fill cups just before eating.
Contains soy and sesame. Check hoisin sauce and chow mein noodle labels for wheat.