Blood Orange Pork Lettuce Wraps

These beautiful lettuce wraps are a cinch to make. You can definitely use ground chicken or turkey as a substitute for the ground pork. These wraps make a wonderful low-carb, high protein lunch or dinner. The filling reheats easily.

The tart/sweet taste of the blood orange pairs great with the pork. Then the added layers of flavor from the honey ginger balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and the complimentary orange blossom honey? Oh, it all blends together PERFECTLY!

Make the sauce first, and while it simmers and reduces, brown the vegetables and the ground pork.

For the sauce:

3 T. Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil

2 T. soy sauce
3 T. orange blossom honey
2 T. Honey Ginger Balsamic Vinegar

In a small saucepan, over low heat, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and let sauce reduce until mixture becomes thick, about 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat.

For the filling:

1 T. Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil

1 T. minced garlic

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 lb. ground pork

1 carrot, grated

4 oz. diced water chestnuts

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. dried red pepper flakes

In a medium skillet, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, garlic, onions, and bell peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 - 4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.

Add pork, breaking up with a wooden spoon, and allow to cook until no pink remains. 

Add carrots, water chestnuts, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stirring frequently, cook for an additional 5 minutes or so.

Add the sauce to the pork and vegetables, stirring to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and allow another 2 - 3 minutes of cooking time. Check taste and add additional salt if necessary.  A few grinds of black pepper would be great as well.

 

 

At this point, you can assemble your lettuce wraps, or let mixture cool and refrigerate. You basically have another dinner ready to go in your fridge for a hurried meal during the week, or to pack in lunches. To reheat, simply place in a skillet over low heat and allow to heat through.

So now to assemble the wraps:

Place a small spoonful of the pork mixture into a piece of curly leaf lettuce. Top with diced seedless cucumber, chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and/or thinly sliced green onions. 

Have soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or duck sauce available for toppings as well. OR, forget those and lightly drizzle some toasted sesame oil on top!