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Overhead picture of Vietnamese Carmel Pork Lettuce wraps on a platter with fresh toppings

Vietnamese Caramel Pork Lettuce Wraps

These crazy-delicious lettuce wraps make a fresh, light weeknight meal and are also perfect for a dinner party.

Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine Vietnamese
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 312 kcal
Author Chris Scheuer

Ingredients

For the caramel pork:

  • ½ cup dark brown sugar tightly packed
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 ½ cups coconut water
  • 2 medium-size shallots halved lengthwise and sliced very thin
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2-3 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
  • 2 ½ pounds trimmed pork shoulder cut into ½-inch pieces

To serve:

  • 2 cups finely sliced red cabbage
  • 2-3 Persian cucumbers small seedless cucumbers thinly sliced
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • Boston, bib or butter lettuce leaves
  • chopped salted peanuts
  • 5-minute Easy Peanut Sauce

Instructions

  1. For the Caramel Pork:

  2. Combine brown sugar and water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir until combined. Once mixture begins to bubble, continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, stir and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady, simmer. Simmer for 60-70 minutes uncovered, stirring every 15 minutes until the liquid has reduced and the pork is tender.
  4. Continue to cook at this point, stirring frequently until the pork reaches a deep caramel color and most of the liquid is gone and pork is glazed.

To serve:

  1. Serve with shredded carrots, thinly sliced red cabbage, thinly sliced cucumbers, Boston, bob or butter lettuce, chopped peanuts and peanut sauce.

Recipe Notes

See Café Tips for detailed instructions and tips.

Recipe adapted from Recipe Tin Eats

Nutrition Facts
Vietnamese Caramel Pork Lettuce Wraps
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 77mg26%
Sodium 1172mg51%
Potassium 1000mg29%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 7565IU151%
Vitamin C 25.7mg31%
Calcium 99mg10%
Iron 2.7mg15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.