Endive can be used in lettuce cups.
Chicken Lettuce Cups are a way of serving chicken that is usually diced, shredded, ground, or diced to be presented inside a lettuce leaf that acts as a bowl to hold the chicken and other ingredients. In some cases, chicken lettuce cups are designed to be eaten with utensils, in which case the lettuce is primarily ornamental or made to be cut up and eaten in pieces with the chicken. Other times, especially in some Asian preparations, the lettuce tops should be folded and eaten with your hands, like a wrap or burrito. Chicken inside lettuce can be prepared in a variety of ways, although all ingredients are generally cut into small pieces and very runny sauces are avoided to help maintain presentation. Chicken lettuce cups are a traditional dish in some Asian cuisines, but their popularity in other cuisines can be attributed in part to their adoption by several commercial restaurant chains.
Mung beans, often used to make a lettuce cup.
The type of lettuce used to make chicken lettuce cups can vary, although the two most popular types are iceberg lettuce and boston bib lettuce. Iceberg lettuce provides strong leaves for laying down the chicken, while iceberg lettuce has a more delicate and tender flavor. Other types of lettuce that can be used include escarole for a distinctive flavor or romaine lettuce leaves. The key is to choose a type of lettuce with leaves that are large and strong enough to support the chicken.
When making the filling for chicken lettuce cups, the first step is to cook the chicken, either by frying, sautéing or grilling the pieces. Once cooked, the chicken can be cut into small pieces, grated or diced into small pieces. Alternatively, you can use ground chicken for a finer texture and easier preparation. Like any chicken recipe, the chicken can be marinated first or cooked with ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, butter, onion, or white wine for flavor.
Once the chicken is cooked, the rest of the recipe can be made with just about anything. An Asian recipe for chicken lettuce cups might add mushrooms, water chestnuts, mung beans, bell peppers, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and ginger. For a Mediterranean version you can use tomatoes, olives, artichokes, mozzarella cheese, onions and lemon juice. Mexican-style chicken lettuce cups can be made by mixing chicken with salsa, cumin, cilantro, and chili, and sprinkling the finished cup with a little grated cheese.
To assemble chicken lettuce cups, lettuce leaves are woven together beforehand to cool and then dry completely. The hot filling for the lettuce cups is spooned over the lettuce, along with any additional toppings. The amount of filling used can vary, with large amounts indicating that the dish should be eaten with utensils, and smaller amounts providing enough room for the lettuce to be folded and eaten as a wrap.