Thai Basil Pork Lettuce Wraps

Yum

In just ONE WEEK, I am jumping on a plane and flying to Japan to visit my bestie!! I will be taking a 3 week long vacation and traveling through Japan, Thailand and a quick stop in Beijing to see the Great Wall of China. 

Holy shit.

I AM EXCITED!

To be honest, I can't decide where I'm most excited to travel to. It changes daily - that is no exaggeration.

I get excited about the fact we are spending a day with elephants  in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Then I quickly remember we will be visiting the snow monkeys of Japan (in case you didn't know, I LOVE monkeys) and Japan jumps to a lead. But I can't overlook the fact that we will be hiking along the Great Wall, in both restored and unrestored portions. HOW IS A GAL TO CHOOSE?!

My itinerary, in case you'd like to follow along and live vicariously through me, is as follows:

• April 27-28: Tokyo, Japan
• April 29: Bangkok, Thailand
• April 30 - May 1: Chiang Mai, Thailand
• May 2-3: Krabi, Thailand
• May 4: Bangkok, Thailand
• May 5-8: Beijing, China
• May 9: Tokyo, Japan
• May 10-11: Kyoto, Japan
• May 12-16: Tokyo, Japan 

Above all else, I can't ignore the fact that I just love food and this entire trip is sure to be the most amazing culinary experience. 

In Bangkok, we are taking a half day cooking class. Before I learn the traditional way of Thai cooking, I flexed my culinary muscles with this recipe to celebrate my trip. Thai basil dishes are always my favorite when I eat Thai food. I love the element of flavor the basil adds to the dish. Asian food can often be thought of as heavy and filling as they are normally accompanied with rice or noodles. These lettuce wraps are such a delicious and healthy option, all while enjoying the same amazing Thai flavors. 

These lettuce wraps are so easy to make! They are great for lunch or dinner, but also make for the perfect entertaining dish. Serve these to your next party and it is sure to be a hit. 

Thai Basil Pork Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 jalapeño, chopped (add more or less depending on your desired spiciness level!)
• 1/4 c onion, chopped
• 1/2 c basil leaves, roughly torn
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tsp coconut sugar

Serve with:

• Butter lettuce, leaves washed and separated
• Shredded carrots
• Green onions, sliced
• Fresh basil

Directions:

1. Begin by chopping all ingredients and making your sauce. In a small bowl combine soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and coconut sugar. Stir well and set aside.
2. In a pan over medium high heat, add coconut oil, garlic, jalapeños and onion. Sauté until onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. 
3. Add ground pork and continue to cook until browned, an additional 3 minutes. Be sure to continually mix the pork, onions and peppers so that the meat doesn't stick to the pan. 
4. Once the pork has cooked, add the torn basil and sauce. Allow the sauce to reduce some, cooking for an additional 2 minutes. 
5. Transfer pork to a serving dish. Assemble lettuce wraps with butter lettuce, pork, shredded carrots, green onion and  more fresh basil!

Nutritional Information (1 serving):

185 calories - 21 g Protein, 5 g Carbohydrates, 9 g Fat

Crunchy Asian Slaw

I've never been a huge fan of coleslaw. First off, I don't really like mayonnaise all that much and secondly, it usually doesn't have any sort of texture - basically a creamy, mushy mess. Some people dig it...I am not one of those people. I DO however LOVE this Crunchy Asian Slaw!

In my opinion, vinegar based coleslaw is far superior to mayonnaise based. I also think having a crunch and texture to your coleslaw makes a world of difference. The combination of red cabbage, napa cabbage, carrots and scallions with a dressing made from rice vinegar, sesame oil and lime juice is my definition of a good slaw.

This slaw is fantastic just on its own OR you could served it as a side with my Seared Ahi Tuna.  Need a bright and colorful dish to bring to a party or friend's barbecue? This is a great option! Its quick and easy. I love meals like this because they are delicious, filling and still an excellent healthy meal choice. Could you say the same after eating your traditional mayo-based coleslaw? 

Crunchy Asian Slaw

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 5 cups

Ingredients

For the slaw:

• Red cabbage, 3.5 cups shredded 
• Napa cabbage, 1.5 cups shredded
• Carrots,1 cup shredded
• Scallions, 3 sliced
• Cilantro, 1/4 cup chopped
• Sesame seeds, optional for garnish

For the dressing:

• Lime, 1 oz juiced
• Sesame oil, 1 tbsp
• Rice Vinegar, 2 tbsp
• Coconut Aminos, 1 tbsp (you could sub for soy sauce if you don't have coconut aminos)
• Sunflower butter, 1 tbsp (you could sub almond or peanut butter here as well)
• Ginger, 1/2 tsp grated
• Garlic, 1/4 tsp chopped

Directions

1. Mix together ingredients for the dressing. 
2. Combine all ingredients for the slaw (except for sesame seeds) in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing.  Plate and garnish with sesame seeds.

Nutritional info (1 serving, approximately 1 cup)

85 Calories - 2 g Protein, 9 g Carbs, 4.5 g Fat