A Taste of Thai

The first time I tried Thai food I was a student in Paris. The flavors were electrifying and exploded with each and every bite. I fell in love with the many flavors of Thai food: spicy. sour, sweet, salty and bitter. I couldn't wait to share the wonders of this delectable cuisine with my friends and family when I got home. However much to my disappointment, Thai restaurants were not as popular or abundant as they were in Paris. I was unable to find one to match the magical flavors I experienced in Paris. Since then, I have learned to cook some Thai dishes, one of my favorite being Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The exquisite flavors of this recipe remind me of the wonderful Thai food I had in Paris.

                                                Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps 
                                                              Courtesy of
                                                         Williams Sonoma

Ingredients
6 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
2 tsp. sugar
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 1/2 tablespoons peeled and grated
   fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/4 lb. ground chicken
Lettuce leaves for serving
Bean sprouts, fresh cilantro and basil
    leaves for serving

1. Stir together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, sugar amd lime juice. Set aside.

2. Add green onions, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook stirring occasionally,  until chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 the soy sauce mixture and cook 1 minute more.

3. To serve, spoon about 3 tablespoons chicken mixture into a lettuce leaf, top with cilantro and basil, and wrap lettuce around filling. Serve remaining soy sauce mixture alongside for dipping.

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