Vegetarian lettuce wraps with less than 200 calories for a HUGE serving. This lettuce wraps recipe is easy, healthy and WAY better than the PF Chang’s original! They’re vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and low carb.
When a P.F. Changโs opened in my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, it was A Big Deal. New restaurants always generate a buzz, especially chains associated with larger cities. P.F. Changโs was no exception. The two-hour wait lasted for months, and when my family finally scored a table, our server insisted that we order the lettuce wraps. She was SO RIGHT.
I still remember their sweet crunch andย addictiveย taste. PF Chang’s serves up delicious Asian dishes, so copycat PF Chang’s recipes can be found all over the interwebs. (This PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef looks amazing).
Todayโs Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps recipe is a copycat version of the illustrious P.F. Changโs original.
Theyโre easy, healthy, and so much of a dead ringer for the real deal that theyโve become one of my most popular recipes!
The Best Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
Although I typically begin my recipe posts by describing the dish, this time, I thought Iโd share a few excerpts from the comments section. I canโt even tell you how happy these make me to read (and reread). Thank you.โค๏ธ
- Oh my lanta. I donโt often leave feedback on recipes I found online, but I have to tell you how impressed I am by these lettuce wraps. The appetizer was always my fav at P.F. and since going meatless a couple years ago, I pretty much resigned to the fact that Iโd never enjoy them again. I made them tonight andโฆ Wow. Just wow. Delicious.ย The consistency and flavor were spot on.
- These are fabulous! I make them when I want to do something special for friends and family. Feels like eating at PF Changs!
- This recipe is delicious and so easy. Made this for dinner tonight, and it was an instant hit with the whole family!
- Just made these last night with my 10 year old daughter who is a well known hater of mushrooms and onions and she could not stop raving about this meal. She said, โMom, itโs like a party in your mouth!โ
- Iโve never cooked with tofu until I made this recipe. Wow! The flavors and textures were spot on to the originals. Delicious. Even though it made a large amount my husband and I devoured almost all of it in one sitting!
- I just made these tonight, and they are AMAZING!!! I eat tofu all the time, but even my husband whoโs not really a fan of it enjoyed these!
- Absolutely DEELISH. Better than P F Changs!
And so many more!
About These Healthy Lettuce Wraps
As you likely pieced together from the comments, these Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps are made with tofu and mushrooms, two ingredients that often unnerve more hesitant eaters.
As those who have tried this lettuce wrap recipe can attest, however, you hardly notice them! Both ingredients are finely diced, and by the time the tofu and mushrooms have simmered in that signature, addictive P.F. Changโs sauce, all youโll taste is the flavors of the original.
If you are still feeling unsure about the tofu, please slow down and carefully consider this next sentence. My inspiration for these tofu lettuce wraps came from The Pioneer Woman.
Yes, it was the Food Network queen of the cattle ranch herself who prompted me to use tofu for the vegetarian lettuce wrap filling. If tofu vegetarian lettuce wraps are approved in the home of a cattle rancher, they will be in yours too! (And if you’re still REALLY unsure, check out the chicken version of these Asian Lettuce Wraps or my Asian Chicken Wraps!)
The Pioneer Woman put a southwest spin on her tofu lettuce wraps by adding corn and chili powder (which I may try at some point), but todayโs recipe is all about harnessing the flavors and ingredients that give P.F. Chang’s famous lettuce wraps the cult following they enjoy, but in a light and healthy way you can enjoy any night of the week.
Bonus: this healthy lettuce wraps recipe is ready in 25 minutes. So long, two-hour wait!
Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps Leftover Tips
- Any leftover filling keeps well in the refrigerator for severalย days. I recommend rewarming the leftovers in a skillet over medium heatโthey’ll taste as fresh as if you had just made the recipe.
- In addition to serving my vegetarian copycat P.F. Changโs filling as a lettuce wrap, I also like to mix the extra portions with brown rice or scramble them with eggs for quick, healthy lunches throughout the week.
More Delicious Healthy Asian Recipes with Tofu
- General Tso’s Tofu
- Honey Lime Tofu Stir Fry
- Mapo Dofu (Chinese Spicy Pork with Tofu)
- Korean Braised Tofu
- Kung Pao Tofu
Recommended Tools to Make Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
- Nonstick panย (a seasoned cast iron skillet works well also)
- Heatproof spatula
Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3ย tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons canola oil or grapeseedย oil
- 1 packages extra-firmย tofu (12- to 14-ounces), do not use silken
- 8 ounces baby bella cremini mushrooms finely chopped
- 1 can water chestnuts (8 ounces), drained andย finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes omit if sensitive to spice
- 4 green onions thinly sliced,ย divided
- 8ย large inner leaves romaine lettuce from a romaine heart or butter lettuce leaves
- Optional for serving: grated carrots additional red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside.
- Press theย tofuย between paper towelsย to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Refresh the paper towels and press again. Heat the 2 teaspoons canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Once the oil is hot, crumbleย in theย tofu, breaking it into veryย small pieces as it cooks. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, then add the diced mushrooms. Continue cookingย until any remainingย tofuย liquid cooks off and theย tofuย starts to turn golden, about 3 minutes more. Stir in the water chestnuts, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and half of the green onions and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds more.
- Pour the sauce over the top of theย tofuย mixture and stir to coat. Cook just until you hear bubbling and the sauce is warmed through, 30 to 60 seconds.
- Spoon theย tofuย mixture into individualย lettuce leaves. Top with remaining green onions, grated carrots, and additional red pepper flakes as desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- To Store. The tofu filling can be refrigerated forย 3 to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave with a bit of water or stock to prevent it from drying out or in a skillet over medium heat. Try the leftovers mixed with rice or scrambled with eggs
- To Make Gluten Free. Use a gluten free hoisin sauce and gluten free soy sauce, or substitute tamari instead.ย
Nutrition
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RegisterAnd for posterity, here is one of the original photos from when I first posted the recipe:
Made it for my 18 yr old daughterโs birthday party. Added bamboo and it was a hit with everyone. (Even the โpickyโ eaters.)
Hi David! So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for this kind review!
I made this and added in eggplant, it really good. Perfect for lunch for work and it’s filling.
Hi KC! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Trying to go vegan with the kids and this was a hit. They couldnโt tell it wasnโt meat- even though they knew it was tofu. Pinning it for future rotations.
Hi Melissa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was honestly the worst thing I’ve ever eaten. No amount of seasoning/ additives/ sauce could have saved it. I’ve never followed a recipe before that was so unbearable I had to throw it away because I hate wasting food. if you like bland, flavorless cardboard, this recipe is perfect for you!
Iโm sorry to hear you didnโt enjoy the recipe, Jaya. Many other readers have tried it and loved it, but I know everyone has different tastes. I truly wish you would have loved it!
What a strange review that person left! These are not flavorless at all. They are very good, with tons of flavor! I am wondering if that person left out the hoisin sauce or something.
Hi Lindsey! THANK YOU!!!
I made this when friends came to visit- Wow! Everyone loved it; even those leary of tofu :-)
Thank you
Hi Mary! So glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi Erin. HELP! This afternoon (Tuesday) I made a double batch of this filling for an extended family dinner tomorrow. I just got a call that two in the family have flu like symptoms. They requested we reschedule for Saturday. 4 nights from now. Your recipe says it keeps well for several days but this may be pushing it! Thoughts? If I do save it should I keep it in the refrigerator or will it freeze well (I’m guessing no).
Hi Mary, I havenโt tried freezing these myself, but Iโm afraid the tofu may have an unpleasing texture once thawed. Not sure if you saw in the notes these directions for storing. To Store. The tofu filling can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave with a bit of water or stock to prevent it from drying out or in a skillet over medium heat.
I make tofu crumbles often, usually baked instead of fried, often add mushrooms and other veggies. I almost always freeze part of the batch to use later in tacos, spaghetti, etc. cooked tofu freezes very well!
My daughter is vegetarian and we loved this! So fragrant and flavorful. We whisked up a simple sauce to drizzle and topped it with shredded carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro. So delicious!
Hi Courtney! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
Really, really good! I think I will add a few more mushrooms next time to up the “meatiness,” but overall, this is a great recipe!
Hi Lynette! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
This recipe is super flavorful, fresh and satisfying. It’s become a go-to and a fabulous way to incorporate tofu into my diet. I must confess that I sometimes use ground chicken breast (I grind my own and freeze it in 1 lb packages) and it works well with that, too. Everyone who’s had this has raved. Thank you!
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the lettuce wraps! Thank you for this kind review!
OMG yesssssssss I made it!!! It was so delicious, I can’t stop smiling… because my kids ate all them veggies and didn’t notice ๐ until they finish, this is a must make again, thank you so much…we love it very much so yummy ๐คค๐คค
Hi Viri! That makes me so happy to hear! So glad you all enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!