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Caramelized Pork Lettuce Wraps
Main Dishes

Vietnamese-Inspired Caramelized Pork Lettuce Wraps

These Vietnamese-inspired caramelized Pork Lettuce Wraps are the perfect easy weeknight dinner. They're full of flavor but still light and fresh.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients

Caramelized Pork

  • 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder or butt
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 3/4 cup water
  • kosher salt
  • ground white pepper

For Serving

  • 3 cups steamed jasmine rice
  • 12-14 lettuce cups, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 2 baby or persian cucumbers, cut into sticks
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • cilantro leaves and tender stems
  • fresh mint leaves
  • sriracha, optional

Instructions

  • Prep the pork. Trim the pork of most of the fat, where possible. Cut the pork into 1-inch cubes and place in a mixing bowl with the sliced shallot, sliced garlic, grated ginger, and soy sauce. Season with salt and white pepper and toss well. Set aside.
  • Make the caramel. Combine the brown sugar and fish sauce in a 4-5 quart dutch oven over medium heat. Let the sugar cook, stirring once in a while, until totally melted and foamy.
  • Cook the pork. Add the pork to the caramel and toss well to coat. Stir in the water and oil and stir well to re-melt any of the crystalized sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 90 minutes or so, or until the water has evaporate and the pork is tender. At this point, there will be some fat in the pot with the pork. Continue to cook the pork until the caramel clings to the outside.
  • Serve. Serve the caramelized pork alongside lettuce, steamed rice, chopped veggies, and fresh herbs with sriracha on the side for a bit of heat. Layer the pork and rice into lettuce cups with veggies and herbs to make the most delicious pork lettuce wraps!

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 33gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 1099mgPotassium: 742mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 3555IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 3mg