Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Cups (Printable Page)

Fresh shrimp with crisp veggies and tangy sauce wrapped in cool lettuce leaves, perfect for a light low-carb bite.

# What You Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 tsp sriracha or chili sauce
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Greens

08 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
09 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
10 - 1 small cucumber, julienned
11 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

→ Sauce

14 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - 1 tsp sriracha
17 - 1 tsp honey
18 - 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, sriracha, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to coat evenly.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp mixture and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until shrimp turn pink and are cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce until smooth and well combined.
04 - Arrange the separated lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Distribute cooked shrimp evenly among the leaves and top with julienned carrot, cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced green onions.
05 - Drizzle the prepared sauce over the filled lettuce cups or serve it on the side. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve immediately as an appetizer or light main dish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're naturally low-carb and gluten-free without any awkward substitutions or missing flavors.
  • There's genuine interactive fun in letting people build their own cups—it's more engaging than plating for them.
  • The shrimp cooks in minutes, so this works perfectly for weeknight dinners when you're short on time but want something special.
02 -
  • Overcooking shrimp by even a minute makes them rubbery and sad—the moment they're fully pink, they're done, so don't walk away from the pan.
  • If your lettuce is warm or wilted, chill it in the fridge for ten minutes before serving; the crisp is essential to the whole experience.
  • Make your sauce first, before you cook the shrimp, so you're not scrambling with a hot pan running.
03 -
  • Pat your shrimp completely dry before cooking—any moisture will create steam instead of a good sear, and you want that caramelized edge.
  • If you're serving a crowd, set up a build-your-own station so people can customize the ratio of shrimp to vegetables and sauce to their taste.
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