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Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps are a quick dinner made in 30 minutes! Pork belly slices are marinated, seared, or grilled until golden-crispy, then wrapped with carrots, daikon, cucumber, and herbs in crisp romaine lettuce. Full of umami flavors, it’s so light, refreshing, and low-carb that everyone will beg for more! The pork belly wraps can also be prepped ahead of time!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the pork belly lettuce wraps recipe
- 1 pound (450g) pork belly, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds, optional
- 1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds, optional
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (we used Sriracha)
- 1 or 2 romaine lettuce heads, rinsed
- 1 large carrot, cut into sticks
- 1 seedless cucumber, cut into sticks
- 1 daikon radish, cut into sticks
- 1/2 white onion, thinly sliced (or red onion)
- 1 bunch of fresh cilantro + dill greens, and fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise + hot sauce, for the drizzling sauce.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Pork belly wraps
If you’ve never tried pork belly, you’re missing out! Pork belly is a rich and savory piece of meat, offering a depth of flavor that makes any dish incredibly satisfying. The 50/50 balance of fat and meat creates a juicy, flavorful bite with a top crunch that’s SO hard to resist!
Assembling a pork belly wrap is quick and easy, making it ideal for a quick lunch at home or a festive dinner. Romaine lettuce is ideal for a healthy, low-carb meal and brings a fresh, crisp texture along with carrots, daikon, and white onion. Plus, cooked pork belly leftovers can be used endlessly!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
How to make pork belly lettuce wraps:
1. Marinate pork belly with garlic, ginger, brown sugar, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, soy sauce, white vinegar, oil, and hot sauce for 30 minutes. Massage well to ensure all the pork belly slices are coated with the sauce.
2. In the meantime, prepare your vegetables: slice carrot, onion, and daikon, rinse, and pat dry lettuce leaves.
3. Fry the pork belly in a skillet or grill over medium-high heat for 2 or 3 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown. Keep an eye on the pork belly so it doesn’t burn.
4. Make the spicy mayo: Combine mayonnaise and hot sauce in a small bowl.
5. Arrange all the ingredients for the pork belly wraps on a baking sheet or platter and serve family style.
6. Wrap the pork belly and veggies in lettuce, garnish with cucumber, daikon, carrot, herbs and sprinkle with crushed peanuts if you like – Enjoy immediately!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the pork belly lettuce wrap recipe
- Chill the pork belly in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before slicing. This firms up the fat and meat, making cutting thin, even slices easier.
- Another cooking method for the pork belly is to cook it “low and slow” on the grill to render the fat and tenderize the muscle. If you have time, this method infuses the meat with wonderful flavor!
- Draining excess fat from the skillet during cooking can help achieve a crisper texture.
- Crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, mint leaves, or dill greens make wonderful additional toppings.
Serving suggestions
Try the pork belly wraps with a soy-ginger dipping sauce (you can even use a portion of the marinade), peanut sauce, or a spicy mayo just like we did in the pictures
Making the Pork Belly Lettuces Wraps ahead
Store the cooked pork belly, sliced vegetables, and romaine lettuce leaves in separate airtight containers in your refrigerator. Reheat the pork belly in a skillet, covered, for 1 to 2 minutes per side and assemble just before serving for freshness and texture.
How to keep pork belly leftovers
If you have pork belly leftovers (seriously?), keep them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 days. Gently reheat the pork belly slices in a skillet without oil and serve over a rice bowl, noodles, or even in a sandwich!
More pork belly recipes you should try
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
