Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Tender shrimp with crisp veggies and tangy sauce wrapped in refreshing lettuce leaves for a light bite.

# What You Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 tsp sriracha or chili sauce, adjust to taste
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Greens

08 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
09 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
10 - 1 small cucumber, julienned
11 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

→ Sauce

14 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - 1 tsp sriracha
17 - 1 tsp honey
18 - 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, garlic, ginger, sriracha, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and are cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Fill each leaf with cooked shrimp, julienned carrot, cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced green onions.
05 - Drizzle or serve the prepared sauce alongside. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately as an appetizer or light main dish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the bold flavors of an Asian inspired appetizer without the heavy carbs
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more effort
  • The sauce strikes that perfect balance between creamy tangy and just spicy enough to keep things interesting
02 -
  • Dry your lettuce leaves really well with paper towels or the sauce slides right off instead of coating everything
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the shrimp or they'll steam instead of sear and you lose that nice texture
03 -
  • Buy the largest head of lettuce you can find because some leaves always tear or end up too small to hold filling
  • Pat the shrimp completely dry before seasoning them so the spices actually stick instead of sliding off into the pan
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