Miso Maple Pork Lettuce Cups
Savory ground pork glazed with miso, maple, and lime fills crisp lettuce cups for a fast snack or light supper.
Prep: 15 · Cook: 15 · Total: 30 · Serves: 4 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.9/5 (151 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
This original lettuce cup borrows the sweet-salty balance of a quick stir-fry and gives it a fresh, crunchy wrapper. White miso adds savory depth, maple rounds the sauce, and lime keeps the pork bright.
Story
Theo calls these the kind of road-stop snack that deserves a second napkin. The pork gets dark and glossy, the lettuce keeps it cool, and the maple-miso sauce lands somewhere between diner comfort and a late-night food-truck win. Set out the toppings and let everyone build their own.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons white miso
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 12 butter lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot
- 1/4 cup sliced scallions
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Whisk the miso, maple syrup, soy sauce, lime juice, and water in a small bowl until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the pork, garlic, and ginger.
- Cook for 7 minutes, breaking the pork into small crumbles, until browned and no longer pink.
- Pour in the miso maple sauce and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring until the pork is glossy and well coated.
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and fill each with a spoonful of the hot pork mixture.
- Top with carrot, scallions, and sesame seeds, then pass extra lime wedges at the table.
Chef Tips
- Brown the pork well before adding the sauce so the filling has savory depth.
- Wash and dry the lettuce thoroughly so the cups stay crisp instead of watery.
- For extra heat, add 1/2 teaspoon chili crisp to the sauce.
- The filling can be served over rice if you want a more substantial bowl.
Cook's Notes
- **Pork:** Brown thoroughly before saucing.
- **Lettuce:** Dry leaves well.
- **Heat:** Add chili crisp to taste.