spring / vegan / gluten free

Nutella one day, quinoa the next. This is what I call balance. Tasty balance.

Last week, I had this huge head of red lettuce. After a few days of salads, I worked my way down to the small rounded leaves in the center. I thought they were just too cute to tear apart into another salad, so I thought… lettuce wraps.

This could be a lovely spring appetizer, or a light meal for two. Especially if you’ve been over-indulging lately like we have been.

mushroom & quinoa lettuce wraps

  PrintAuthor: Jeanine DonofrioServes: serves 4 as an appetizer (approx. 8 lettuce wraps). Peanut sauce makes about 1.5 cup (you may have extra)Ingredients

• 8 butter lettuce leaves (small-ish ones)
• ¼ cup peeled cucumber strips
• ¼ cup peeled carrot strips
• ¼ cup crushed peanuts
• serve with extra lime wedges

Mushrooms & Quinoa Filling

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 cups chopped mushrooms, mix of shiitake & cremini or whatever you like
• 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
• a squeeze of lime
• a splash of rice vinegar
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• ¼ cup scallions

Peanut Tofu Sauce

• ¼ cup smooth peanut butter
• 5 ounces silken tofu (soft or firm)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
• 1 small clove of garlic, minced
• splash of sriracha
• splash of rice vinegar

Spicy Sauce (optional)

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (more if you need to temper the spice level)
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• pinch of sugar

Instructions

Mushrooms & Quinoa Filling: Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce. Let them cook down, stirring occasionally, about 5-8 minutes. Add a good squeeze of lime juice. Stir in the quinoa. Add another splash of soy sauce and a slash of rice vinegar (about 1 teaspoon each). Remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup scallions. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Peanut Tofu Sauce: Blend all ingredients together in a small food processor. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Spicy Sauce: Mix all ingredients together, taste & adjust

Assemble everything separately on a platter & assemble as you eat.

3.4.3177

Adapted from Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

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