Thai Pork Mince Lettuce Cups – only 13sp

I got a giant portion of lean pork mince from Morrison’s with my meat vouchers so I split it into three. Now usually I make my Sweet Chilli Chorizo Burgers or some meatballs with pork mince but I really wanted to make something with it last night that didn’t require any fuss (i.e blending or getting my hands dirty). I’ve had lettuce cups a few times in both Thai and Korean restaurants so I thought why not try and recreate them at home myself!

The result was amazing. My OH said it was his favourite dish I had ever made (and considering I was asking him to wrap meat in lettuce I did not expect this!!). It is so, so quick to make and the flavours are incredible, so fresh and zingy. The lettuce cups are a great way to add bulk to a meal for 0sp and really add to the freshness of the dish.

You could have it without rice (and it would make a great starter) but as we were having it as an evening meal I used microwaveable rice (as I was in major rush) and to be honest I would use it again as it was lovely and fluffy and so quick!! The recipe include points for a pack of Morrison’s microwaveable jasmine rice between the two of us but if you want to cook your own you will need 100g of dry rice.

Ingredients

Serves 2 = 13sp (previously 13pp) each

(Without rice = 9sp per person)

300g extra lean pork mince (5% fat)

Large thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and grated

2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated

1 chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

½ tbsp light brown sugar

1 tbsp fish sauce

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

4 tbsp soy sauce

Juice of 2 limes

2 tbsp oyster sauce

5 spring onions, finely sliced

Large handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped

1 large iceberg lettuce

100g jasmine rice, I used a packet of Morrison’s microwaveable rice (or basmati if you can’t find it)

Method

Spray a large frying pan with 1kal, pop on the heat and add the ginger, garlic and chilli (adding a little water if the pan is dry). Fry on a medium heat for a couple of minutes and then add the sugar. Stir in and add the pork mince and break up with a wooden spoon. Cook for five minutes and then add the fish sauce, white wine vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice and oyster sauce and simmer for another five minutes (or until the mince is cooked through and the sauce has gone a little sticky).

Pop the rice in the microwave and cook according to the packet instructions (mine was for two minutes).

Add the spring onions and coriander, stir through and leave to simmer for another minute.

Slice the ‘core’ of the lettuce off and begin to peel away the lettuce leaves, creating large lettuce cups which will be big enough to put the mine and rice in.

Serve the rice, topped with the mince and lettuce leaves on the side.