Thai Lettuce Cups with Green Split Peas

this recipe

These Thai Lettuce Cups with Green Split Peas make a light and refreshing meal, loaded with fiber and plant-based protein from a hearty green split pea filling.

When we lived in California, we often lunched at True Food Kitchen and ordered their Shitake-Tofu Lettuce Cups.  It was one of my favorite menu items so when I came across this recipe, I knew I had to try it! Although this recipe is fairly different than the True Food variety, it is just as tasty.  After I made one batch, we devoured it so quickly that I immediately went back into the kitchen to make a second, double batch!

The preparation of these Thai Lettuce Cups with Green Split Peas is a breeze, but you’ll have to plan on staying near your kitchen while the green split pea filling simmers away on the stove. Although the packaging may say the green split peas take 35 to 45 minutes to get tender, for me it took closer to an hour.  Ultimately, you want to simmer the filling until all the liquid has reduced.

This recipe is adapted from Detoxinista.

Thai Lettuce Cups with Green Split Peas

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 2 -3 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Green Split Pea Filling

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 red onion (chopped)
• 2 medium carrots (chopped (about ¾ cup))
• 2 celery stalks (chopped (about ¾ cup))
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced)
• 2 garlic clove (minced)
• ¼ cup tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 ½ cup green split peas
• 3 cups water
• Juice from ½ lime

For Serving

• 1 head butter lettuce
• Shredded carrots (for garnish (optional))
• Chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish (optional))

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Sauté onion, carrots and celery until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add tamari, maple syrup, green split peas and water and bring the filling to a boil. Lower the heat and allow the filling to simmer until all of the liquid has absorbed and the green split peas are tender, stirring occasionally, about 45-60 minutes.
4. Once liquid has absorbed, squeeze in juice from lime, stir and allow the filling to cool for at least 5 minutes.
5. As filling is cooling, gently peel lettuce leaves away from head of lettuce and spoon filling into each leaf. Garnish with shredded carrots and fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately. Leftover filling can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. Store the lettuce leaves separately to help prevent them from wilting.

• Author: Pralines and Greens
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour