Something Lighter - Thai Lettuce Wraps

For a long time, I found it genuinely difficult not to have a meal without carbs. I used to think this was the West of Ireland in me......... 'a dinner's not a dinner without a spud' and all that ........but as my lunchtime soup also seemed naked without a fat roll on the side and I couldn't contemplate enjoying a casserole without a line of thick doughy dumplings weighing it down,  I now realise it was more to do with my greed than my roots.

And carbs are great....comforting, filling, soothing....but rarely, I've come to realise, constituting the real essence of a dish. I still have them (more than often too many of them) but they are no longer compulsory . I  can now enjoy an omelette without the two once-customary slabs of toast on the side and have even been known to eat my curries with a side of greens instead of rice (brussels sprouts being a particular source of horror to my boyfriend). For me, it's really less about weight management than getting a much needed vitamin injection when I feel its required.

                                             I adore these lazy ginger and garlic jars

These Thai lettuce wraps I made on Monday are incredibly tasty and surprisingly filling. The lettuce here isn't a compromise, however. When you taste them, you'll realise that nothing else would do.

I feel healthier just looking at it

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

for the filling:

400g lean minced pork

1-2 tbs oil

2 tbs fish sauce

2 red chillis, finely chopped

1tsp each of 'lazy' garlic and ginger(from a jar, shock horror!)

2tbs light brown sugar

handful mangetout

To serve

a pile of iceberg lettuce leaves.

2tbs salted roasted peanuts

2 spring onions, chopped

lots of finely chopped mint and coriander

lime segments

Directions:

Heat the oil in a pan until quite hot and fry the ginger and garlic pastes and chilli for one minute.

Add the pork mince and mangetout and fry until the meat is cooked through (about 5-7 minutes).

Add the sugar and fish sauce (I like lots, you might like to add a bit less) and cook for approx 1 minute.

Serve alongside with all the other bits and bobs and get wrapping.