Lettuce Wraps With Thai Salsa
Light with a kick of Thai chili peppers, these lettuce wraps make a zesty meal any time of the year. For those who like a kick, Thai chili peppers and cilantro. For those who prefer a milder salsa, substitute with a milder bell pepper.
Servings: 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
Wrap Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp lime zest, grated
- 2 tsp ginger, minced
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- One head lettuce (iceberg or romaine)
Thai Salsa Ingredients
- ¼ cup Thai chili peppers, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes- halved
- 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- ½ cup green onion, roughly chopped
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp lime juice
- ½ tsp fish sauce
PREPARATION
To create the marinade, add the coconut milk, brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, lime zest, ginger, garlic, and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir until well incorporated. Place the flank steak in the bowl, making sure that the steak is thoroughly covered in the mixture. Marinate for two hours.
In a medium cast iron skillet, add oil and butter then heat to medium high. Sear the marinated steak for about 3 minutes on each side. Quarter turn it to evenly cook, then cook for another 2 minutes. Flip and repeat. The internal temperature should be 145F for medium-rare. For well done, cook the steak an additional 5 minutes. The internal temperature should be 165F for well done. Remove the steak from heat and allow to rest for several minutes. Slice thinly against the grain. Set aside until ready to serve.
In a small bowl, combine Thai chili peppers, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, green onion, salt, pepper, lime juice, and fish sauce. With a wooden muddler or spoon, lightly pound the mixture to release the juices. Add 4 tbsp of water to the mixture. Add salt or fish sauce to taste, as needed.
To serve, offer the components on a platter for a do-it-yourself lettuce wrap or divide the steak and salsa into lettuce cups and serve “taco style.” These lettuce wraps can be enjoyed with a side of hot rice!
