Beef and Cashew Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Seasoned ground beef with crunchy cashews and fresh vegetables in crisp lettuce cups

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried

→ Nuts

07 - ½ cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped

→ Sauces & Condiments

08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
11 - 1 tsp sesame oil
12 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 1 tsp chili sauce (optional, for heat)

→ Garnishes

14 - Fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
15 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the garlic and ginger to the pan; stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the carrot, bell pepper, and half of the spring onions. Cook for 2–3 minutes until just softened.
04 - Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce (if using). Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
05 - Stir in the cashews and cook for 1 minute, just to warm them through.
06 - Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. To serve, spoon the beef mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with remaining spring onions and fresh coriander. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crunchy lettuce and warm beef create this incredible hot-cold contrast that keeps every bite interesting
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more effort on it
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that overstuffing the lettuce cups ends in disaster, so go easy with the filling
  • The lettuce starts to wilt if you assemble these too far ahead, so keep everything separate until the last minute
03 -
  • Grate the carrot and ginger on the large holes of a box grater for the perfect texture
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly before assembling so the lettuce stays crisp and does not wilt

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