Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

A friend recently came back from a work trip to Portland. Needless to say, I was a little jealous. Portland has become a big up and coming food hub for the young and ambitious and a big advocate of the Farm-to-Table food trend. He came back with amazing stories of innovative foods from honey, balsamic, black pepper ice cream with strawberry swirl to my newest inspiration Thai PB&J.

I was shocked and elated. Thai PB&J was introduced to our friend by a local restaurant in Portland. After doing some research, I found the masterminds behind this creation. PBJ's Grilled, took inspiration from the childhood classic and pad thai, mixing natural peanut butter, sriracha, fresh basil, curry powder and orange marmalade. Immediately, my mind went to the lettuce wrap with chicken. From that point I was gone. Here's what happened in my kitchen the next day.

Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

1 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp peanut butter
juice of 1 lime
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp curry powder

2-3 cups of grilled chicken
salt and pepper
Head of Boston lettuce

1/4 cup of chopped peanuts
4 tbsp orange marmalade
6 basil leaves, chiffonade
chopped peanuts (optional)
sliced cherry tomatoes (optional)
thinly sliced jalapeno (optional)
white rice (optional)

For peanut sauce, combine ginger, garlic, peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce and curry powder in a small bowl. To assemble lettuce wraps, start with one leaf of lettuce and any choice of toppings.

Chicken, chopped peanuts, lettuce cups, toppings, marmalade, peanut sauce, rice (in pot)

Sauces, toppings, lettuce and rice

Build your own lettuce wraps

NOM

This new combination of orange marmalade, peanut butter, and curry powder is my newest obsession. I didn't even know how well these two things complement each other. The spicy, savory, sweet and salty all together is amazing. I'll be making the Thai inspired PBJs for years to come.

-Akemi-chan