Sweet Chinese Minced Pork in Crunchy Wraps
This Chinese delight, from longtime Scramble fan Sherry Ettleson, is a family-friendly way to get healthy tofu into your diet. If you prefer, use tortillas instead of lettuce leaves as wrappers, or use both (the leaves inside of tortillas).
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (or use any variety)
- 1 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced, about 1 tsp.
- 2 - 3 tsp. fresh ginger peeled and chopped
- 1 cup shredded (matchstick cut) carrots
- 6 scallions thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp. hoisin sauce (sold with Asian foods) or more to taste
- 1 lb. ground pork, ground turkey, or meatless crumbles
- 2 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce (or use any variety) (use wheat/gluten-free, if needed)
- 1 lb. extra-firm tofu drained, wrapped in a clean cloth to absorb extra liquid, and cut into small cubes
- 10 - 12 large iceberg lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Stir the cornstarch into the broth and set it aside.
- In a large heavy skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, carrots, and half of the scallions and stir-fry them for 1 minute.
- Add the hoisin sauce and meat/crumbles. Stir-fry them for 3 - 5 minutes, until the meat is almost cooked through.
- Add the soy sauce and broth, and bring it to a low boil.
- Add the tofu and the remaining scallions. Simmer it for about 5 minutes.
- At the table, wrap about 1/2 cup of the mixture inside each lettuce leaf (you may need to use two leaves stacked on top of each other to avoid leaks) and eat it like a soft taco.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Omit the oil. Add all ingredients except the lettuce to the slow cooker, stir well, and cook on low for 7 - 8 hours or on high for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Serve as directed. (Slow cooker cooking times may vary—Get to know your slow cooker and, if necessary, adjust cooking times accordingly.)
Notes
Do Ahead or Delegate: Peel the garlic, peel and chop the ginger, chop the scallions, shred the carrots if necessary, drain, cut, and wrap the tofu in a clean towel.
Scramble Flavor Booster: Add a little sweet or hot chili sauce or hot Chinese mustard to the wraps.
Tip: According to recent scientific research, chopping, slicing, pressing or mincing garlic before cooking it can increase its health-promoting properties. After prepping your garlic, if time allows (ha! Does that ever happen for "Scrambling" families?), let it sit for 5 - 10 minutes before cooking it. This lets certain compounds and enzymes interact, increasing the nutritional benefits of this pungent bulb.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (with pork) (% based upon daily values): Calories 236, Total Fat: 23g, 35.5%; Saturated Fat: 7g, 33%; Cholesterol: 55mg, 18%; Sodium: 326mg, 13.5%; Total Carbohydrate: 10g, 3.5%; Dietary Fiber: 2g, 7%; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 22g
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