Sticky sweet Korean style steak is tossed with peppers, carrots, green onions, rice noodles and served in crispy lettuce cups.
We rented Straight Outta Compton last night on Amazon and you guys, I feel like my world was just turned upside down.
I HAD NO IDEA EAZY-E DIED OF AIDS!
Like 20 years ago…
…moves rock she’s been living under….
Seriously though, I feel like this changes everything.
What does this change?
Ok, nothing really.
But in my head N.W.A was all still very much alive and kicking.
Besides that revelation, I also realized I’m officially old.
When Dre started keying the beat to Nothin’ But A G Thang as Snoop walks in the house I got all nostalgic and caught myself going “aaawww, shit…good song!”
1993 Snoop is to me what The Beatles are to my parents and omfg, I’m old.
I guess I’ve officially reached that inevitable point in life where I prefer nostalgic music from my high school and college days to the new stuff on the radio.
To be fair though, I still like and listen to the new stuff but none of it gives me that “oooh! good song!” feeling like a classic 90s rap throwback does.
It’s cool though because old people make things like Korean steak and noodle lettuce cups, take pictures of them, house them standing up leaning over the sink for lunch between recipes and then tell the whole internet about them.
With the 90s rap station blasting on Pandora of course.
If you love the flavors of Korean steak (think thick, sticky and sweet garlic soy sauce), this is such a fun and healthier way to enjoy it – all wrapped up in a handheld size lettuce cup. You’ll also like this sweet potato glass noodle recipe that includes Korean marinated beef strips.
I used flank steak here but skirt steak or tri tip steak would be good substitutes. You can even use the air fryer to cook the steak (like this air fryer skirt steak recipe) if preferred.
Making the rice noodles an addition to the lettuce cup rather than the base of the meal really helps on the portion control too so you’re not eating upwards of 200g carbs in rice noodles.
Enjoy!
Love this Korean Steak and Noodle Lettuce Cup recipe?
Check out this honey orange sesame chicken or this spicy beef and red pepper rice bowl for more Asian inspired quick dinner ideas! And you’ll probably enjoy these sticky orange turkey lettuce wraps too.
Korean Steak and Noodle Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red chile paste
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
For the lettuce cups
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil, divided
- 1 pound flank steak or london broil, thinly sliced
- 1 large carrot, cut in half width-wise then thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 6 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 4 ounces rice noodles
- handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 head bibb lettuce, outer leaves carefully removed, washed and pat dry
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Whisk all the ingredients together for the sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rice noodles, cook according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the carrots, peppers and mushrooms to the pan and cook, tossing occasionally until just softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer vegetables to a plate or bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil to the skillet then add the steak and cook until browned on one side, flip and cook on the other side until completely browned. Drain any excess fat and return to the stove top.
- Add the sauce and green onions to the skillet, toss with the steak until all the pieces are coated, lower the heat to medium-low and reduce until thickened and sticky, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the vegetables and rice noodles back in the pan and toss everything together until well combined and coated with the sauce.
- Remove from heat, add the cilantro and give one final toss.
- Spoon the steak and noodle mixture into the lettuce leaves and garnish with sesame seeds before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I feel so old too! Oh well, these lettuce cups look delish.
This recipe sounds really nice to me. Thank you.
Ok…so I seriously feel really old because I don’t even know who Easy-E is. :-( But I’ll just bury my old, wrinkled hag like face in a pile of these lettuce cups because they look like the schnizzle. (Is that a cool word to say?)
Haha, he’s like the king/creator/godfather of gangsta rap back in the day!
This is on our list of movies to rent! It may have to be while we eat these!
Will definitely be making these minus the noodles :)
Our 19 year old Australian houseguest who was here earlier this month, went to Long Beach and on the way back on the Metro (train) he went through Compton and let’s just say he had an uncomfortable experience with one of the other passengers and said he had never been so scared! He was very happy to be back in our house that night!
But who cares about the movie, I’m salivating over those lettuce cups!! I LOVE Korean food and these look phenomenal!! Must make them soon!!
We’re so old… and these look SO GOOD! I cant stop gawking at them!
i just had a similar situation where i felt super old – talking to my brother about the TV shows we used to watch and he had no idea what ER or Ally McBeal was.
But at least with old age comes better food. :) Like these tacos! You cooked that steak perfectly. And sounds like lots of flavors going on…..
xo