Thai-Style Chicken In Lettuce Leaves

• Recipe by Grace Parisi

Ingredients

1. 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2. 1/4 cup sugar
3. 4 teaspoons minced garlic
4. 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
5. 1/4 cup soy sauce
6. 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
7. 1 1/2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
8. Four 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1/2-inch thickness
9. 1 European cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
10. 1 cup mung bean sprouts
11. 1/4 cup mint leaves
12. 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
13. 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts
14. 1 head of leaf lettuce
15. 2 tablespoons water

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, mix the vinegar with the sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Add 1 teaspoon of the garlic and the crushed red pepper and let cool.
2. In a large bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the sweet seasoned vinegar with the remaining 3 teaspoons of garlic and the soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil. Set aside 2 tablespoons of this soy marinade. Add the chicken to the remaining marinade in the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. Light a grill or preheat the broiler and position a rack 6 inches from the heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let it drain, then grill or broil for about 2 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and mound in a bowl.
4. In a medium bowl, toss the cucumber with the remaining sweet seasoned vinegar. Put the bean sprouts, mint, cilantro and peanuts in separate bowls. Arrange the lettuce leaves in a basket. Add the water to the reserved 2 tablespoons of soy marinade. Let guests wrap the chicken and garnishes in lettuce leaves and pass the soy marinade and cucumber salad separately.

Notes

One Serving - Calories 346 kcal, Total Fat 9.0 gm, Saturated Fat 1.9 gm, Protein 44 gm, Carbohydrates 21 gm