Char Siu Pork Lettuce Cups with Pickled Onions
Crunchy little gem leaves filled with sweet, savoury lean pork mince, water chestnuts and sharp pickled onions.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Char siu marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.84 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Spray a large non stick frying pan with low fat cooking spray and heat it over a high heat.
- 2
Add the pork mince and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through with no pink left.
6 min 40 s - 3
Pour in your ready made char siu marinade (see the base recipe) and 3 tbsp water. Simmer for 3 minutes until the mince is sticky and coated.
3 min - 4
Stir in the water chestnuts, carrot and half the spring onions and cook for 1 minute. The vegetables should stay crunchy.
1 min - 5
Spoon the pork into the lettuce leaves and top with your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe) and the rest of the spring onions.
- 6
Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over and eat with your hands.
Tips
- Chop the water chestnuts small so they stay crunchy in every bite without tumbling out of the leaf.
- Use cold, crisp leaves. Keep them in iced water for 10 minutes to make them extra snappy.
- Cook the mince until the pan is nearly dry before adding the sauce. Browning gives the deepest flavour.
Storing and freezing
Keeps up to 2 days in the fridge, cooled within 1 hour, as the pork filling only. Reheat until steaming hot and fill fresh lettuce leaves, because dressed leaves go limp.
Questions
Can I use chicken or turkey mince?
Yes. Use 500 g turkey or chicken mince and cook it for 7 to 8 minutes, making sure it is cooked through with no pink left.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Cook the filling up to 2 days ahead and reheat until piping hot. Assemble the cups only when ready to eat.
Are lettuce cups gluten free?
Yes, when you use the gluten free marinade as in the base recipe. Check the labels of the hoisin and tamari you use.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Torta Ahogada (Guadalajara Drowned Pork Sandwich)
NFTacos de Hongos con Mole (Mushroom Mole Tacos)
DFEFNFPaneer Tikka Kathi Rolls
EFNFVTacos de Hongos al Ajillo (Garlic Mushroom Tacos)
VGVDFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.