Recipe: Kawasaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps #GlutenFree #Sriracha

Light, healthy,and absolutely delicious -- our Kawasaki Chicken Lettuce wraps were inspired by a sushi specialty at one of our favorite (now defunct) Japanese restaurants in Carmel, CA.  The Kawasaki roll featured a tempura fried prawn with sushi rice, fresh avocado and spicy mayo, wrapped in a butter lettuce leaf.  

Our version features a crispy, oven baked chicken strip with an almond meal crust -- lots of protein, no gluten.  It's become a family favorite that we've enjoyed weekly over the summer.  We serve it up taco-bar style:  all the components plated separately so everyone can build their own to their liking.

Kawasaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1/2" strips (approx. 16)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 Tablespoon sriracha
• 1  1/4 cups almond meal
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• a few cranks of freshly ground pepper
• 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
• 2 green onions (scallions), green ends sliced into thin strips
• 2 heads butter lettuce, leaves separated, washed and dried
• Sriracha mayo (store bought, or made by mixing mayonnaise and sriracha sauce to your liking)
• White rice, cooked

Step 1:  In a medium bowl, toss chicken breast strips with mayonnaise and sriracha to coat.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate.

Step 2:  In a medium shallow bowl or plate, mix together the almond meal, kosher salt, garlic powder, pepper and Parmesan.

Step 3:  Preheat oven to 375° F.  Coat the bottom of a baking sheet with olive oil.

Step 4:  Dredge each marinated chicken strip in the almond meal mixture.  Place on the oiled baking sheet.  

Step 5:  Bake on middle rack of oven for 15 minutes.  Flip chicken pieces over, then bake for an additional 15 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Step 6:  While chicken is baking, assemble a platter with the remaining ingredients.  

To assemble:  Take a butter lettuce leaf and add some sticky white rice.  Top with a chicken strip, avocado slice, piece of green onion, and sriracha mayo.  Eat like a taco.  Enjoy!