I have used copycat recipes before, which have come fairly close in flavor, but they take FOREVER to make. Over the break, my cousin Beth had Christmas dinner and served lettuce wraps as an appetizer. Or I guess they were supposed to be an appetizer...no one told me that, because I acted a pig over them. What set them over the edge was a slaw that added just the right amount of crunch...without using the usual water chestnuts (which I hate)! Beth filled me in on her secrets, and I made them for dinner last night. Brian loved them (he didn't get any at Beth's because he was sick).
Here's the drill....
The chicken mixture is easy. Saute onions and garlic. Add your chicken. Diced chicken is better, but the LAST thing I want to do on a weeknight is cut raw chicken -yuck!- so I used ground...just brown it up really good. Then I added some fresh grated ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and white balsamic vinegar (rice wine vinegar would be better, but I didn't have any).
I made the slaw the night before...red cabbage, carrots, apples, peanuts, freshly grated ginger, sesame oil, and white balsamic vinegar. I have no idea how much I used of any of these ingredients. Just taste it as you go.
You MUST try these....even if you aren't a slaw/cabbage person. I never eat slaw, but it is the perfect combo with the chicken. Must be the pregnancy. Or maybe I'm just growing up. Either way, we devoured them. All I got a picture of was the beautiful left over slaw.....
PF Changs - oh, it's way too good. I used to work at CPK and PF Changs was right across from us. We used to trade food quite often. I swear, I really could eat my weight in lettuce wraps.
ReplyDeleteagreed. THAT'S what PF Changs needs to be packaging for the frozen aisle at walmart! ;-)
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