We recently asked our newsletter subscribers to submit their favorite recipes that included local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. Rodney Hickman, one of our Oregon customers, submitted the following recipe for Lemon Grass Chicken Wraps and won a $150 gift card. Here is his recipe; we hope you enjoy it, too!
Lemon Grass Chicken Wrap Recipe by Rodney Hickman
Ingredients: (serves 4-6 people)
1 lb – Organic boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped fine
1 – Stock fresh lemongrass, sliced paper thin
3 – Kaffir lime leaves, sliced into very thin strips (cut strips down to about ½” long)
3-6 – Red chili peppers, seeded and chopped
¼ cup – Fresh lime juice
1-2 Tbs – Fish sauce
1 Tbs – Sugar
1 tsp – ground roasted rice (roast in dry skillet until start to change color, grind in pestle and mortar)
1 – Green onion, sliced thin
6-8 sprigs – Cilantro, chopped
12 – Mint leaves, chopped
1 tsp – Ground red chili peppers
Lettuce leaves for wrapping, often cut in squares (some like to use cabbage)
Process:
1. Cook chicken in a small skillet, or in a sun oven, in a little water (no oil), stir continuously. Cook until done, should be consistency of small crumbles. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl combine chicken, lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaves, chopped red chili peppers, lime juice, sugar and fish sauce; mix well.
3. Stir in ground roasted rice, green onion, chopped cilantro and chopped mint leaves.
4. Transfer to a platter and serve at room temperature with lettuce leaves. Garnish with green onions and mint leaves.
Hints:
I was trained to never trust ground meat, therefore start with a nice organic chicken breast and chop with chef knife until same consistency as ground meat.
When you find fresh Kaffir lime leaves, keep them in the freezer and use as you have the need.
Lemongrass can be more easily sliced by freezing it and use a cheese grater (this is rumor only, I still slice it thin because that’s the kind of love I like to put into my dishes.
I always think I will make a sauce to put over it like they do at PF Changs, then I remember what an explosion of flavor already in the dish so it doesn’t seem to need a sauce. I expect everyone to decide for themselves and make the dish their own and enjoy!