do the let-us, lettuce rap

I may never spend the hour long wait to eat at PF Chang's again after trying this oh so easy and quite tasty version of their lettuce wraps. I'm already planning on putting tofu in it for Meatless May. Yum-o-lah. The recipe may look daunting but seriously, it's a breeze.

P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps
unofficial, of course

The works:
1 pkg. bean threads or rice noodles
lettuce (PFC uses iceberg), rinsed, separated into "cups," and cooled
2 chicken breasts, sauteed and cooled, chopped into little bits (pea size)
1 can water chestnuts
mushrooms (enough for about 2/3 cup. dried and reconstituted shitakes are perfect for this!)
3 tbsp green onions
1 clove minced garlic (or the cheater stuff from a jar, I won't tell anyone)
special sauce stuff: listed below
stir fry sauce: also below

Special Sauce... served on the side and made hot or not with the addition of mustard or chilli paste (below as kick-it-up versions 1&2)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp sesame oil
sliced green onions for garnish
Mix 'um all up and refrigerate until you're ready for it.

Kick-it-up-a-notch sauce version 1:
Add 1 tbsp. hot mustard and 2 tsp hot water, mix and set aside.

Kick-it-up-a-notch sauce version 2:
1-2 tsp. garlic and 1-2 tbsp red chile paste; mix and set aside.

To mimic PFC set out special sauce, and kickers 1 & 2 in separate dishes and allow guests their preference on how to combine them.

Stir Fry sauce:
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp rice wine vinegar
mix all and set aside


Ok- let's get started.
Fill a pan 1/3 full of veg. oil and heat until very hot. Drop in a small piece of bean thread or rice noodle. If it explodes in 1-2 seconds the heat is perfect! Cook all bean threads quickly and then drain on paper towel. If you want to keep your teeth, make sure they are all cooked before you yank them out of the pan. Break into bite sized pieces and layer on the bottom of a serving platter.

Saute the cooked and diced chicken in 1 tbsp oil with the water chestnut and mushrooms. Add the stir fry sauce, chopped green onions, and garlic. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Layer over bean threads, serve with lettuce cups, and enjoy the simple deliciousness of it all.