Cheesecake Factory Lettuce Wraps: Copycat Perfection

Recreate the Cheesecake Factory's Famous Thai Lettuce Wraps at Home

Craving the vibrant flavors and textures of the Cheesecake Factory's Thai Lettuce Wraps but don't want to leave the house? Now you can create this iconic dish in your own kitchen. This recipe captures the essence of the restaurant favorite, offering a symphony of tastes and sensations that will delight your palate.

This recipe is comprehensive, but the end result is well worth the effort. It delivers a captivating combination of flavors and textures. The trio of dips provides sweet, savory, rich, zesty, and fresh notes, while the wrappers and fillings offer a mix of springy, crispy, crunchy, and velvety elements. From the flavorful dips to the crisp lettuce and cabbage, the succulent chicken, the refreshing cucumber salad, and the savory curry noodles, every component contributes to an exciting and harmonious experience.

The acidic elements, like the cucumber salad, balance the sweetness and enhance the vibrant components. The richer elements soothe and coat the palate, while the crunchy toppings add a perfect touch of freshness. These homemade Thai chicken lettuce wraps are a truly exceptional dish.

Ingredients You'll Need

This recipe has several components, so it requires a wide range of ingredients. It's helpful to organize and measure the ingredients for each component before starting.

Sweet Chili Sauce:

• Rice vinegar
• Water
• Soy sauce
• Granulated sugar
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Cornstarch
• Sambal oelek

Tamarind Cashew Sauce:

• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Hoisin sauce
• Olive oil
• Tamarind paste
• Cumin
• Turmeric
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Cilantro
• Scallions
• Chopped cashews

Peanut Sauce:

• Peanut butter
• Sweet chili sauce (from the recipe above)
• Soy sauce
• Lime juice
• Water
• Sesame oil

Coconut Curry Chicken:

• Yellow curry paste
• Honey
• Lime juice
• Coconut milk
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Salt
• Raw chicken tenders

Cucumber Salad:

• Hot water
• Granulated sugar
• Rice vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sliced cucumber
• Sliced red onion

Curry Noodles:

• Yellow curry paste
• Unsweetened coconut milk
• Sesame oil
• Salt
• Cooked ramen noodles

Wrap Assembly:

• Bibb lettuce leaves
• Red cabbage wedges
• Julienned carrots
• Bean sprouts
• Fresh cilantro
• White and black sesame seeds
• Chopped peanuts

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making the Sweet Chili Sauce:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, ¾ cup water, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and ginger. Whisk to combine and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. In a separate small bowl, combine 1 ½ tablespoons of water with the cornstarch and stir to create a slurry.
4. Add the cornstarch slurry and sambal oelek to the saucepan. Whisk to combine and continue to simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened.
5. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside to cool.

Making the Tamarind Cashew Sauce:

1. In a small skillet or saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, honey, hoisin sauce, olive oil, tamarind paste, cumin, turmeric, garlic, and ginger. Whisk to combine.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, whisking frequently, for 3 minutes.
3. Transfer the sauce to a food processor and add the cilantro and scallions. Pulse until combined.
4. Transfer the sauce to a sealable container, add the chopped cashews, and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Making the Peanut Sauce:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, cooled sweet chili sauce (¼ cup), soy sauce, lime juice, water, and sesame oil.
2. Whisk to combine. Refrigerate the peanut sauce and sweet chili sauce until ready to serve.

Making the Chicken Marinade:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the yellow curry paste, honey, lime juice, coconut milk, olive oil, garlic, ginger, and salt.
2. Whisk to combine the marinade.

Marinating the Chicken:

1. Place the chicken tenders in a zipper bag.
2. Add the marinade and coat the chicken.
3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight).

Making the Cucumber Salad:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the hot water and sugar. Whisk until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
2. Add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the bowl. Whisk to combine.
3. Add the sliced cucumbers and red onion to the bowl. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Cooking the Chicken:

1. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
2. Once hot, add the marinated chicken and grill for 10 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through.
3. Remove the chicken from the grill and set aside to rest.

Making the Curry Noodles:

1. In a large bowl, combine the yellow curry paste, coconut milk, sesame oil, and salt. Whisk to combine.
2. Add the cooked ramen noodles to the bowl and toss to coat.

Assembling the Lettuce Wraps:

1. Transfer the sauces to small dipping bowls and place them in the center of a large serving platter.
2. Place the bibb lettuce leaves on the platter.
3. Arrange the red cabbage wedges around the edges of the platter, creating small bowls.
4. Place the julienned carrots, bean sprouts, cucumber salad, and curry noodles in the red cabbage wedges.
5. Place the grilled chicken on top of the bibb lettuce leaves and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
6. Sprinkle the cucumber salad and noodles with sesame seeds. Sprinkle the chicken with chopped peanuts.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips for Managing the Recipe

If the number of steps and ingredients seems overwhelming, break the recipe down into manageable chunks.

• Make the sauces in advance: The sweet chili sauce, tamarind cashew sauce, and peanut sauce can be made 2-3 days ahead and refrigerated.
• Marinate the chicken ahead: Prepare the chicken marinade a few days in advance, but don't marinate the chicken for longer than overnight.
• Prepare the cucumber salad in advance: Make the cucumber salad a few hours before serving. Be mindful that the cucumbers might soften if left in the acidic mixture for too long.
• Cook the chicken in advance: The cooked chicken can be refrigerated overnight and served hot or cold.
• Make the curry noodles fresh: Prepare the curry noodles just before serving to prevent them from becoming mushy.

Sourcing Specialty Ingredients

Most ingredients are readily available at any grocery store. However, you may need to visit an Asian grocery store for tamarind paste or yellow curry paste. If that's not an option, you can also order tamarind paste online. Yellow curry paste is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes.

Enjoy creating this restaurant-worthy dish at home!