How was your weekend? We had an exciting trip to Nashville for the past couple days, celebrating some fun things with family there (more to come on that!) :)
And now it’s Monday again. Sometimes I feel like it’s always Monday, but I like that Mondays mean a new start, a time to get stuff done. We always start Monday by writing down some goals for the week. You’ve got to stay positive ya no? Chances are my list will only be half done by Friday but aim high so it feels like you’re a rockstar! Haha
I also love ending Monday with a well-rounded, delicious home cooked meal. By mid-week sometimes we’re in leftover or easier recipe mood. But getting through Monday-days should be rewarded.
Since we’re doing Veganuary, all days for us are meatless, but if you’re not Meatless Mondays (#meatlessmonday) are a great trend to jump in on for the rest of the month or throughout the year. The term was coined in 2003 and since then Meatless Mondays have become a global movement as a way to enjoy the health and environmental benefits of consuming less meat and more vegetables!
Even if you don’t go completely meatless on Mondays, you should definitely try and consume more vegetables! A diet rich in vegetables may reduce risk for stroke, heart diseases, type-2 diabetes, cancer, chronic diseases and more in addition to the vital nutrients and vitamins your body craves.
The USDA recommends two to four cups of vegetables per day depending on how many calories you need to consume.
So today is Meatless Monday and yesterday was National Gluten-Free Day (#nationalglutenfreeday) which I love because it’s a great opportunity to show people that eating gluten-free and meatless doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, taste, and nutrition!
For some reason those unfamiliar with these lifestyles assume that meatless eating means only salads and that gluten-free eating means missing out on bread and pasta. Well if you haven’t figured it out by now from my recipes, that’s all malarky. These are so many amazing alternatives nowadays, even those without dietary restrictions are enjoying gluten-free and meatless products on the reg.
And probably by now you’ve recognized LeBraun’s and I’s obsession with Asian cuisine + flavors. With that in mind we present to you an easy, delicious Meatless Monday meal—Gluten-Free, Vegan Lettuce Wraps!
Most people instantly think of P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps and they were definitely used to inspire this meal.
The sweet + savory sauce is a punch of flavor while the crisp leaves and water chestnuts adds a cool, fresh crunch. Yin and yang in true Asian fashion.
Gluten-Free, Vegan Lettuce Wraps are filling enough for a main meal, yet light enough for an appetizer. Plus this one pan meals only take about 20 minutes to cook up!! That’s right, you could be enjoying these tasty taco-style delights tonight in under 30 minutes!
Vegan Lettuce Wraps
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 lb gluten-free, plant-based ground of choice (n1)
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 cup onions, finely diced
- 1 tsp Sriracha
- 1 tbsp agave nectar
- 2 1/2 tbsp GF soy sauce or Tamari
- 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 (8 oz) can of water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced
- Lettuce leaves, washed and dried (I like to use green leaf lettuce)
- Pinch of salt
Optional
- Crushes peanuts
- Grated carrots
Directions
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground meat, garlic, ginger, onion and cook until lightly browned.
- In the meantime, combine Sriracha, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, stirring until well combined.
- Then add prepared sauce to the skillet, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for at least 5 minutes or until the meat is completely cooked. (The filling may be slightly soupy which is fine.)
- Use your spatula to break up the crumbles into small mince-style pieces.
- Test and season with salt to taste preference.
- Fold in water chestnuts and green onions.
- Divide filling among the lettuce leaf cups to enjoy, taco style!
NOTES
n1. Garden Ultimate Beefless Ground, Beyond Meat Beefy Beef-Free Crumble, Nightlife Smart Ground Meatless Original Crumbles (not GF), and Lightlife Plant-Based Gimme Lean Veggie Sausage (not GF) all work great!
n2. The recipe will not be gluten-free if you use a meatless ground that’s not gluten-free! :)
