Yuk Sung

Featured in Perfect Party Bites and Snack Recipes.

Yuk Sung is a popular Chinese dish that features savory minced meat and vegetables served in crisp lettuce cups. This recipe uses chicken mince cooked with carrots, mushrooms, and water chestnuts, all seasoned with aromatic Chinese five spice, soy sauce, rice wine, and a touch of honey. What makes this dish special is the contrasting textures - the warm, flavorful filling against the cool, crisp lettuce - and the interactive eating experience it provides. The filling is stir-fried until the sauce reduces completely, ensuring a non-soggy result. Topped with spring onions, chili, and fresh coriander, these lettuce wraps make an impressive appetizer for parties or a light, refreshing main course.
Home Delicious Recipes
Updated on Wed, 26 Feb 2025 22:57:18 GMT
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Experience the perfect balance of savory and fresh with these delightful Yuk Sung lettuce wraps. This Chinese dish transforms simple minced meat into an explosion of flavors and textures, all nestled in crisp lettuce cups. It's an interactive appetizer that's impressive yet surprisingly simple to prepare.

After discovering Yuk Sung during my exploration of Chinese cuisine, I was amazed by how this simple combination of ingredients creates such complex flavors. The moment the aromatic filling hits the hot wok, you know you're creating something special.

Essential Components

  • Mince Selection: Choose quality ground chicken or pork with some fat for flavor
  • Vegetable Texture: Finely chopped vegetables ensure proper cooking and bite
  • Lettuce Quality: Crisp gem lettuce or romaine hearts provide the perfect wrapper
  • Sauce Balance: The combination of soy sauce, rice wine and honey creates depth
  • Garnish Freshness: Spring onions, chilies and coriander add bright finishing notes
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Creating Your Masterpiece

Perfect The Mince:
Cook ground meat over high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Brown thoroughly for maximum flavor development.
Master The Vegetables:
Chop all vegetables to similar small size. Add to mince in proper sequence based on cooking time.
Build The Flavor Base:
Incorporate Chinese five spice, allowing it to bloom in the heat before adding liquid ingredients.
Create The Sauce:
Add soy sauce, rice wine, and honey, cooking until the mixture reduces and intensifies in flavor.
Complete The Presentation:
Arrange lettuce cups alongside the filling and garnishes for an interactive dining experience.

This dish has become my go-to for entertaining, as guests love the interactive aspect of filling their own lettuce cups. The vibrant colors and enticing aroma always draw people to the table before I even announce that dinner is ready.

Perfect Pairings

Transform this appetizer into a complete meal with thoughtful accompaniments. Serve alongside steamed jasmine rice for a more substantial dinner. For a complete Chinese feast, pair with spring rolls or dumplings. During warmer months, add a cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar for cooling contrast.

Creative Variations

Adapt this versatile recipe to suit any preference. Create a spicier version by adding chili paste or Sichuan peppercorns. Make it vegetarian with crumbled tofu or finely chopped mushrooms. Add pineapple or mandarin orange segments for a sweet contrast. For extra crunch, incorporate sliced almonds or peanuts.

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Storage Success

Prepare components ahead for quick assembly. The filling keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to three days, with flavors actually improving overnight. Store lettuce leaves wrapped in damp paper towels for maximum freshness. Prepare garnishes shortly before serving for best color and texture.

Through countless iterations of this recipe, I've found that respecting the balance of flavors and textures creates the most satisfying results. This dish proves that simple ingredients, when properly prepared, can create a memorable dining experience that rivals any restaurant version.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the filling ahead of time?
Yes, the filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. Reheat gently before serving and assemble with fresh lettuce.
→ What can I use instead of water chestnuts?
Diced jicama or bamboo shoots provide a similar crunchy texture. For a more common substitute, try diced celery.
→ What type of lettuce works best?
Gem or butter lettuce work best as they form natural cups. Iceberg or romaine can also be used, though they may be less cup-shaped.
→ Is there a substitute for Chinese rice wine?
Dry sherry or even a splash of apple juice with a drop of vinegar can work as alternatives.
→ How do I eat Yuk Sung properly?
Pick up a lettuce cup, add a spoonful of filling, top with garnishes if desired, and eat like a taco - wrapping the lettuce around the filling.

Chinese Lettuce Wrap Yuk Sung

A flavorful Chinese dish featuring seasoned chicken mince with vegetables served in crisp lettuce cups, perfect as an appetizer or light meal.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes


Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Chinese

Yield: 8 Servings

Dietary: Low-Carb, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 15ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
02 450g (1lb) chicken mince
03 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
04 225g (1/2lb) mushrooms, cleaned and finely chopped
05 6 water chestnuts, finely chopped
06 15ml (1 tbsp) Chinese Five Spice
07 45ml (3 tbsp) dark soy sauce
08 30ml (2 tbsp) Chinese rice wine
09 15ml (1 tbsp) honey
10 15ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
11 4 gem lettuce, washed
12 4 spring onions, cleaned and thinly sliced
13 2 red chillies, washed and thinly sliced
14 Fresh coriander leaves, for garnishing

Instructions

Step 01

Heat the oil in a large wok. Fry the chicken mince over a high heat until browned, which should take about 3 minutes.

Step 02

Tip in the carrots, mushrooms and chestnuts. Fry for another 3 minutes.

Step 03

Stir in the Chinese Five Spice, then pour in the soy sauce, rice wine and honey.

Step 04

Stir fry at high heat and ensure the sauce bubbles and eventually dries up so that you don't end up with soggy mince.

Step 05

Remove from the heat, and stir in sesame oil. Place the mince in a serving dish, with lettuce leaves on the side so that guests can help themselves. Alternatively, wait for the meat to cool down a bit and fill each lettuce cup with the chicken, then place on a serving platter. Perfect for parties! Sprinkle with spring onions, red chillies and coriander.

Notes

  1. Traditionally, Yuk Sung is made with pork mince, but in this case I used chicken. Feel free to experiment with lamb and beef mince!

Tools You'll Need

  • Large wok
  • Serving dish

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains soy (soy sauce)
  • Contains sesame (sesame oil)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 244
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 12.9 g
  • Protein: 9.5 g