Chicken lettuce wraps: takeout warmth, rebuilt for AIP

Some of the meals you love most started life in a paper carton, and this one brings that flavor home. It is a takeout favorite rebuilt entirely from real, whole ingredients, with coconut aminos standing in for soy and carrying the savory work just as well. That kind of resourcefulness is worth bringing into your own kitchen.

Chicken breast is a lean source of protein and of B vitamins involved in energy metabolism. The mushrooms add their own savory depth and a natural umami note, while the crisp romaine brings folate and water-rich crunch. The honey in the sauce, 2 tablespoons across the whole batch, is a light hand that rounds out the salty notes without leaning on refined sugar.

A bird gave this meal. Build the wraps with attention, set them out where everyone can reach, and let the table do the assembling.

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 8 oz minced chicken breast
• 1 cup minced water chestnuts
• 1 cup minced mushrooms
• 3 tbsp minced onion
• garlic from the 3 cloves below, part reserved for the sauce

For the sauce:

• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos (the AIP umami stand-in)
• 1 tablespoon honey (permitted on AIP)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• remaining garlic from the 3 cloves

To serve:

• 8 romaine leaves

This is AIP compliant as written. Coconut aminos replaces soy sauce. The source notes vegetarians could use tofu or extra mushrooms, but tofu is not AIP, so keep the chicken.

Method

Warm the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced chicken, water chestnuts, mushrooms, onion, and part of the garlic. Saute until the mushrooms have shrunk down and everything is cooked through.

While that cooks, stir together the sauce: water, coconut aminos, honey, lemon juice, and the rest of the garlic.

Spoon the chicken mixture into the romaine leaves and drizzle the sauce over the top. A quick saute in a single skillet is really the only sensible way to do this one; the filling wants direct heat and a little movement.

*Adapted from a-clean-plate*

*Lower-sugar note: most of the sweetness here is the honey. We have already trimmed it, and you can cut it back further to taste, starting with half and adding only if you need it.*