Ingredients for - Chef John's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs, coarsely chopped 1 ½ pounds
2. Water chestnuts, drained and minced 1 (8 ounce) can
3. Diced shiitake mushroom caps 1 cup
4. Minced yellow onion ½ cup
5. Chopped green onion ⅓ cup
6. Soy sauce 1 tablespoon
7. Freshly grated ginger 1 tablespoon
8. Brown sugar 2 teaspoons
9. Chicken stock ¼ cup
10. Rice wine vinegar ¼ cup
11. Garlic, minced 4 cloves
12. Ketchup 1 tablespoon
13. Soy sauce 1 tablespoon
14. Sesame oil 2 teaspoons
15. Brown sugar 2 teaspoons
16. Red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon
17. Dry mustard ½ teaspoon
18. Vegetable oil 2 tablespoons
19. Chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste 1 ½ tablespoons
20. Chopped fresh basil, or to taste 1 ½ tablespoons
21. Chopped green onion, or to taste 1 ½ tablespoons
22. Iceberg lettuce, or as needed 16 leaves

How to cook deliciously - Chef John's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 . Stage

Stir chicken, water chestnuts, mushrooms, yellow onion, 1/3 cup green onion, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ginger, and 2 teaspoons brown sugar together in a bowl. Pat mixture down, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.

2 . Stage

Whisk chicken stock, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ketchup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sesame oil, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and dry mustard together in a bowl until glaze is well-mixed.

3 . Stage

Heat vegetable oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over high heat. Cook and stir chicken mixture in hot oil until chicken no longer looks raw, about 2 minutes. Pour 1/2 of the glaze mixture into chicken mixture; cook and stir over high heat until chicken begins to caramelize and brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

4 . Stage

Reduce heat to medium-low, pour remaining glaze into chicken mixture, and cook until heated through and slightly reduced, about 3 minutes more. Stir in cilantro, basil, and 1 1/2 tablespoons green onion. Transfer chicken mixture to a bowl and serve with lettuce leaves to wrap.