A Messy Meal: Lettuce Wraps
Back in the day, Mal and I would make lettuce wraps all of the time for dinner. We had just moved in together and neither of us knew anything about cooking. Lettuce wraps were so easy to make, nutritious, and sort of gourmet– at least to us! 
I’m not sure how we let lettuce wraps go by the wayside, but I’m glad that we added this meal to our weekly lineup once again. Mal and I actually made a night of it– complete with wine and dinner music. 
Our lettuce wrap toppings included:
Fresh guacamole and a mixture of cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.
Carrots, chopped green bell peppers, and shredded cheddar cheese.
Nasoya Japanese-style noodles.
And, of course, Boston lettuce for the wraps.
I ate about 5 or 6 lettuce wraps with all of the ingredients and low-sodium soy sauce drizzled inside.
The lettuce wraps were so delicious, but I forgot how messy they are to eat!
I love that lettuce wraps are supposed to be eaten with your hands. It makes for a fun meal!
Mal and I originally started with forks, but by the end of the meal, we gave up trying to be neat and used our hands to add ingredients to our lettuce wraps.
It was so much easier than fumbling around with utensils!
Chomp! 
Even though they’re a little messy, lettuce wraps are the perfect meal for a chill night at home with your favorite person.
This post was sponsored by Viva Towels. For fun, fork-free recipes – including videos – and snappy entertaining ideas, get over to the VIVA® Diva Café.
Tags: lettuce wraps, Viva Diva Cafe
Jenna — November 10, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
i really want to try lettuce wraps after seeing them on your blog!
jenna
Kristy — November 10, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
I LOVE lettuce wraps. Those look so good!
Tasha — November 10, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Yum! I love to order those as dinner when I’m at the Cheesecake Factory, but I should make them at home.
Kate — November 10, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Definitely making these tonight. The man of the house needs meat though! Perhaps I’ll add mince to his? Would that work?
I hope so!!! Yum, can’t wait anyway.
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Mm, I love how light lettuce wraps are. I really like the ones over at the Cheesecake Factory- I always order them whenever we go out to din there.
Adriane — November 10, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Looks delicious!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — November 10, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
I love lettuce wraps!
candice — November 10, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
That’s some really pretty lettuce. The shape is like rose’s! The toppings look really yummy too, especially the guacamole and nut/seed mix. Yay for giving up on the utensils!
Morgan @ Life After Bagels — November 10, 2009 @ 8:30 pm
mmmmm so crunchy . . . I ate a similar meal, only I made it a salad, too messy for this girl!
Freckles — November 10, 2009 @ 8:31 pm
What a great and easy way to eat fresh veggies for dinner!
I gotta do that next week!!
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
Those look fantastic! Definitely something I’ll be making in the near future.
Cait (Cait's Plate) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
They might be messy but they sure look delicious! What a creative meal idea
Food Makes Fun Fuel — November 10, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Haha, lettuce wraps and other finger foods are always a blast
Brittany — November 10, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
I love lettuce wraps (or any food that you get to put together at the table) it makes for a fun meal!
Did you use any sauce on the wraps or just plain?
Nicole — November 10, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
Great looking dinner, Tina! I love how you used nuts for that added crunch and noodles for some bulk. One of my favorite dishes at PF Chang’s is the lettuce wraps and these remind me of them – except much healthier!
Estela @ Weekly Bite — November 10, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
I love lettuce wraps! Your post reminds me I need to try them again
Cynthia (It All Changes) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
I had lettuce wraps at a party once and fell in love. I used to buy boston lettuce just for that each week
ashleigh — November 10, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
I have never made lettuce wraps. thanks for the great idea!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Yum, love lettuce wraps! The ones from PF Changs are awesome!
Jessica S. — November 10, 2009 @ 8:46 pm
yum!
Nikka @ neekadeek — November 10, 2009 @ 8:50 pm
Our family loves lettuce wraps! Anything that each person can make to personally suit their tastes is a big win. Yum!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — November 10, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
what a great idea! Sounds like a fancy version of taco night
Jessie (Vegan-minded) — November 10, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
I love lettuce wraps! Yours look so healthy and delicious.
Melissa — November 10, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
I made a package of Nasoya noodles tonight. Never thought to use them in lettuce wraps. Thanks for the idea!
Christy — November 10, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
My husband and I have lettuce wraps once a week. Only we put a Mexican spin on it. We use Trader Joe’s refried beans salsa style (best ever!), grilled peppers and onions, cilantro, salsa and guac. Delicious!!
Molly @thevegandorm — November 10, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
Those are a great idea! Of course, guac is great on everything, but any messy food is a plus for me
Whitney @ Lettuce Love — November 10, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
I love making lettuce wraps! Delish
Kelly from Bridges and Bites — November 10, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
Hmmm I haven’t tried that before! It does look like an… erm… adventurous meal! The mix-ins sound good!
Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) — November 10, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
Never had em before but they seem right up my alley. Hate to cook so this looks perfect. Thanks!
Sarena — November 10, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
We love lettuce wraps here too! They are gluten free for our crowd and kids love eating them!!! So much fun!
Katie — November 10, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Tina,
I have been reading your blog for over a year now, but that was the first time I was actually offended by a post. You are usually so honest and fresh. Sponsorship from a paper towel? Really? I’m not sure how that has anything to do with a food blog. Keep up the great, non-spammy, posts!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries — November 10, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
Definitely delicious; definitely not date food… good thing you have a hubby to enjoy them with
maria — November 10, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
You’ve inspired me for today’s lunch!
SweetiePotato — November 10, 2009 @ 9:55 pm
haha I made the mistake of ordering lettuce wraps on a date once
… super messy for sure!
Katie — November 10, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Yum! Not a first date food though. I love the lettuce wraps at PF Changs but I don’t know if I could order them in a group of people.
Stephanie @ Foodie McFood — November 10, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
I love these! At thai restaurants they are the best!!
Sarah — November 10, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
I love lettuce wraps! I need to add these into my weekly meals too
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — November 10, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
lettuce wraps are….dare i say – sexy?!
Marla — November 10, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
Sponsored by viva towels??!!
Sorry,I giggled thinking you were joking.
But now realize this must be another form of blog advertising/income…
in my heart it is “sponsored” by Tina only!;)
Kate — November 10, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
I really loved the sausage, spinach and provolone pizza, I’m really excited to try it!
MB — November 10, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
Those lettuce wraps look yummy but I think I’m going to have to hit up PF Changs for lunch tomorrow for their lettuce wraps. Yummmm…
Lu — November 10, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
I love love love lettuce wraps. They are amazing. I think I may have to hit up PF Chang’s for some as well.
Lee — November 10, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
Definitely a fun meal. I made some a few weeks ago.
Emily Eats and Exercises — November 10, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
Yum. I haven’t eaten these in years, but any food you can eat with your hands is good in my book.
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) — November 10, 2009 @ 11:53 pm
Those look delicious, healthy, fun, and simple, my idea of a perfect meal.
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) — November 11, 2009 @ 12:16 am
Lettuce wraps are so simple and light – yours look delicious. I love that you put the nasoya noodles in them – I don’t think I would have thought of that!
BroccoliHut — November 11, 2009 @ 12:22 am
mm I love me some lettuce wraps–especially with tofu and raw cashews!
Felicia (Bites of the Apple) — November 11, 2009 @ 12:25 am
I’ve only had lettuce wraps at a restaurant. I enjoyed them but definitely never thought to have them at home. I might have to do that now. Looks great!
Ameena — November 11, 2009 @ 1:14 am
What a great idea! Dinner looks delicious.
momgateway — November 11, 2009 @ 1:24 am
Congratulations on winning in the Food Blogger Awards!
marge — November 11, 2009 @ 1:25 am
I have to agree with katie.I’ve been reading for almost two years and I feel like a friend is telling me half truths. I liked the dinner story but felt like it was insincere after the sponsorship disclosure. I honestly am happy for you Tina in your new career turn. You are incredibly inspiring and fearless. I encourage you to be your amazing self and shy away from being obviously co-opted like this. If you find a more subtle way of going about earning income on your blog, I believe your readers will appreciate it and will keep your trust that you have earned and deserve.
Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness — November 11, 2009 @ 1:50 am
Fun idea! Will have to try these out soon
Rosie — November 11, 2009 @ 4:07 am
I have to agree with the others who made the sponsorship comments. I’ve never commented before, but I really feel like you need to hear that this is an opinion shared by a number of readers, not just a select few. I honestly think posts like this just bring down the tone of your whole blog.
I think you’re great Tina, but.. this I can’t get on board with at all.
Alice — November 11, 2009 @ 5:07 am
Ha. Sellout… I usually SKIP the ads in magazines/TV…
Kate — November 11, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Yum. I love lettuce wraps. Making them at home is a lot cheaper than PF Changs too – and a heck of a lot tastier!
I’m not loving the sponsor thing so much though. This is the first time I noticed something like that pop up on the blog – is it a new thing?
Light Delight with TouTou — November 11, 2009 @ 8:30 am
wow! that is a very interesting meal !!! – simple but looks really delicious!!!!!!!
Paige@ Running Around Normal — November 11, 2009 @ 9:07 am
Those look really interesting!
Rebecca platt — November 11, 2009 @ 9:24 am
Looks Yummy, I am going to have to make this one night!
Lauren — November 11, 2009 @ 9:33 am
I love lettuce wraps!
On an unrelated note, all your photos look fantastic, Tina. Great camera!
Laura M — November 11, 2009 @ 9:35 am
The Thai Lettuce Wraps at Cheesecake Factory have over 1200 calories if you ate the whole thing (no joke). Its mostly from the sauces.
If you make them at home, you can control your calories.
Beth @ DiningAndDishing — November 11, 2009 @ 9:57 am
yummm, i love lettuce wraps. i especially like them with some peanut sauce to dip into. great simple weeknight dinner idea!
Tina — November 11, 2009 @ 9:59 am
re: Sponsorship: I understand why you guys might get upset, but blogging is very time-intensive and I don’t make a lot of money from it. I need to earn a living and a little money here and there helps, especially since it’s my job now. My post may have been sponsored by Viva, but I still enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Mal eating delicious lettuce wraps!
Lizzy — November 11, 2009 @ 10:27 am
mmm i love lettuce wraps too. you can seriously make them into anything you like!
Scott — November 11, 2009 @ 11:14 am
What a fantastic idea for a quick and easy weeknight meal. I’m going to make these tonight, thanks for the inspiration!
janene — November 11, 2009 @ 11:18 am
yup, reader of over 2 years now, and i just silently shook my head when i saw the crumpled paper towel in the last shot. i knew instantly – oh damn, it was one of those paper towel posts!! it was like everything i just read about the meal was now “tainted” by knowing you needed to make this post for your sponsor. you can’t escape the fact that the gratuitous paper-towel shot (heh….the “money shot”!) colors the feel of the whole post. you just cannot. i’m sure you DID enjoy the healthy dinner with your husband – really and truly. and that’s what we want to see, without the blatant sponsorship. it’s like when you see the obvious product close-ups in sitcoms and stuff on tv — most of us cringe when they pause on that Coke can just a little too long, or blatantly position things with labels facing out and in clear focus – it’s like “come ON people, that’s was horrible and you know it”. and it’s a similar feeling here. we all sympathize with the need to earn a living. there HAS to be a better, more subtle way. and damn, maybe you could have at least found a more eco-friendly sponsor at that!! how about using cloth napkins! ha, ok, now i’m just getting off-topic:)
Carolyn — November 11, 2009 @ 11:19 am
I suggest using some sort of peanut sauce next time! Yum!
Marla — November 11, 2009 @ 11:51 am
I am a huge fan of your blog and do truly hope there is a way(more ads on side of blog or whatever!)that you cna earn more income.I totally would like to see a great gal like you make a good living.It just makes me feel a bit queasy having blog POSTS be sponsored by a company.
I hope you don’t take offense by my comments because I really am a fan and respect you….am sincerely hoping ads can be done in another manner to gain income.It’s funny how much it turned me off seeing that add at the end.It really cheapens the authenticity of it.
Thanks for listening to my comments and hope you don’t mind me expressing these thoughts-cheers Tina!
Tina — November 11, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
Those are so cute! I love Boston lettuce too, it’s so velvety and good.
Alison — November 11, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
I disagree with the negative comments about sponsorship. OK –it would be one thing if you wrote a whole post talking about how amazing Viva paper towels are, but this was no different than just having an ad on the side of your page. I’ve always appreciated your honesty compared to other bloggers — I’ll never forget that post you wrote about the Mohegan Sun Casino-sponsored trip and how you were disappointed by their food.
Blogging is your job, and we don’t expect you to do it for free.
As long as your writing isn’t biased I don’t see the problem.
Meredith — November 11, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Agree with the other sponsorship posts! This WAS different than having an ad on the side of your page- I can ignore those! I love that you mention specific products by name on your blog all the time, and that give your honest feedback about them, whether or not they’re provided to you for free. But this is different and totally cheesy! What’s next, a plug for Lysol wipes you can use for after-dinner clean up? These paper towel posts even sound different than what you would normally write (especially the “impromptu girls night” one!), like the company told you what to say! Please- I LOVE your blog and these posts are just distracting