Pork Lettuce Wraps (San Choy Bow)

For the filling

• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil Use something neutral, not olive oil. Substitute: peanut oil
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
• ½ inch ginger peeled and minced (about ½ teaspoon)
• ½ onion Use a small one. A red onion will make the dish sweeter.
• 1 carrots Use a small one. Mince, grate, or julienne.
• 10 oz ground pork (300g) Use pork with a decent amount of fat. See post for substitutions.
• 3 dried shiitake mushrooms Break off the stems (when dry)- these can be kept for soup stock. Wash the caps, then soak in hot water for at least 30 minutes to soften, before mincing. If all this is too much hassle, substitute with 3-5 fresh shiitakes
• 10 water chestnuts (100g or 3.5 oz) You can find canned water chestnuts at the Asian groceyr store. If you don't have it, feel free to omit it, but it gives the recipe a pleasing slight crunch.

For the sauce

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch No more than 1¼ teaspoon or we'll get a goopy sauce.
• 3 Tablespoons water To mix with the cornstarch for the cornflour slurry
• 2½ Tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Shaoxing wine Substitutes: dry sherry, sake, or, in a pinch, mirin.
• ½ Tablespoon dark soy sauce Substitute: sweet soy sauce (and omit the sugar.)
• 1½ Tablespoon light soy sauce Do not use low-sodium. This adds the flavor. We want the seasoning to be strong, so that it won't be diluted by the lettuce later (especially if you dont' dry your lettuce properly and it's still a bit wet!)
• 1 teaspoon white sugar Can be omitted if you don't want the filling too sweet. (Or omit if using mirin instead of shaoxing.)
• ½ Tablespoon sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt Taste before adding as everyone likes a different level of saltiness, but I felt the filling needed it. (If you don't add the water chestnuts, don't add the salt, or the filling will be a bit salty.)

For the wrap

• 1 butter lettuce Separate the leaves, wash and dry. If you use Romaine lettuce or Iceberg, make sure to cut the hard base off before separating the leaves. You may end up with a few leaves left- be healthier and double up on them for the last few wraps!

Optional Topping

• 1 prig green onions sliced
• fried shallots