Vietnamese beef & noodle lettuce bowls or wraps

Are you ready for a flavor explosion? Crunchy, salty, tangy, a lil sweet, a lil spicy, refreshing, and filling. Bring it on! This recipe is a real crowd pleaser and perfect for the summer heat! Quick and easy to throw together. You can make it into a bowl or a wrap. I adapted this recipe From A Chef's Kitchen. 

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 tablespoon oil of choice
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 pound lean ground beef (I used grassfed beef from Meatme.ca)
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2-3 red chilies, chopped (optional)

For the cucumber relish:

• 1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced into small pieces
• 3 scallions chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the sauce: 

• 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• Juice of one lime
• Zest of one lime
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Toppings (no set amounts for these, just go crazy on the veggies and load up):

• Romaine lettuce
• Rice noodles, prepared per package instructions and drained well
• Grated carrots
• Shredded cabbage
• Roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• Lime wedges

Directions
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SAUCE:  Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.  Divide into small bowls for each diner.
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FILLING:  Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Cook onion and ginger until softened.  Add garlic and beef.  Cook until beef is browned and cooked through, crumbling the beef into small pieces as you go.  Drain well.  Stir in remaining filling ingredients.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until almost evaporated.

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Relish: Chop everything up and combine all ingredients in a bowl

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​TO ASSEMBLE:  Spoon meat mixture onto lettuce leaves, top with cabbage, carrots, rice noodles, peanuts and lime wedges as desired.  Roll up and serve with dipping sauce.

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