14ouncesfirm tofudrained and pressed *See note below
1/2cup brown jasmine rice
1tablespoonolive oil
1cupminced mushroomsabout 4 ounces
2mediumgarlic cloves
2teaspoonsminced ginger
2tablespoonssliced green onion
2tablespoonsminced fresh cilantro
1tablespoonminced fresh mint
12leavescrisp butter or Romaine lettuceor more if the lettuce leaves are small
Toppings
5mediumradishesthinly sliced
1cupshredded carrots
1/2cupchopped cashews
minced scallions, cilantro, mint
Instructions
Press the tofu for 30-60 minutes to remove the liquid.
While the tofu drains, cook the rice in 1 cup of salted water or according to package directions. Alternatively, you can use cooked, cooled leftover rice.
In a small bowl, combine the tamari or soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili paste, lime juice, and sesame oil. Mix well and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the drained tofu and crumble it well using a spatula or spoon. Add the minced mushrooms to the pan. Saute for 3-5 minutes until the mushrooms are soft and any liquid from the tofu and mushrooms has cooked off. Finally, add the garlic and ginger and saute for 30 seconds.
Add the sauce to the tofu-mushroom mixture and stir well to combine. Add the rice and reduce the heat to low. The mixture should be moist. If it seems too wet, let it cook for another 2 minutes or until the excess sauce cooks off. Stir it frequently so the rice doesn't stick to the pan and burn.
Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the green onion, cilantro, and fresh mint.
To assemble, place about 2 tablespoons of the tofu filling in the center of each lettuce leaf. Add fresh vegetable toppings, a sprinkle of herbs, and a sprinkle of cashews to each lettuce wrap. Gently fold over to eat
Notes
Nutrition info is for two medium-sized lettuce wraps.To ensure your lettuce wraps aren't watery, press the tofu block in a tofu press for at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe. Alternatively, place it in a strainer over a bowl, cover it with a paper towel, and place a heavy pot on top to weigh it down.1/2 cup of dry rice + 1 cup water yields approximately 1 1/2 cups cooked rice.