Why You'll Love This San Choi Bow Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This is one of those recipes where “fast food” takes on a whole new meaning. You can prep and cook this dish in under 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Healthy and Fresh: With lean pork mince, crisp lettuce cups, and fresh veggies, this dish is light and packed with nutrients. Plus, you get that satisfying crunch from the lettuce and optional toppings like crispy noodles or peanuts.
- Customisable Flavour: Don’t like pork? Swap it out for chicken mince, turkey, or even tofu for a vegetarian twist. Fancy a bit more spice? Add some extra chilli to the mix. You can truly make this recipe your own!
The Secret to the Perfect San Choi Bow 🥢
The key to a sensational San Choi Bow recipe lies in its balance of textures and flavours. Here’s what makes it sing:
1. The Perfect Sauce 🥄
A good sauce is non-negotiable when it comes to San Choi Bow. The combination of Oyster Sauce, Kecap Manis, Soy Sauce, and a touch of Sugar creates the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami goodness. Add a splash of White Wine Vinegar to cut through the richness, and you’ll have a sauce that coats your pork mince beautifully.
2. High Heat Cooking 🔥
When cooking the pork mince, make sure your pan or wok is scorching hot. This allows the pork to brown and develop that slightly crispy, caramelised edge that adds so much depth of flavour. Resist the urge to stir too much—let the mince sit in the pan so it gets a nice golden crust.
3. Fresh, Crisp Lettuce 🥬
The lettuce cups are the unsung hero of San Choi Bow. For the best crunch, I recommend using Baby Gem Lettuce or Iceberg Lettuce. They’re sturdy enough to hold the filling but still fresh and crisp with every bite. Pro tip: Chill your lettuce leaves in the fridge for extra crunch!
Top Tips and Tricks for the Best San Choi Bow
- Use Fresh Ingredients 🌟: Opt for fresh garlic, ginger, and lime juice for the best flavour. These small details really elevate the dish.
- Prepping the Lettuce 🥬: Cut off the bottom of the lettuce and gently separate the leaves. Wash and pat them dry with paper towel, then chill them in the fridge while you cook. Trust me, chilled lettuce takes this dish to the next level! ❄️
- Add Texture with Toppings 🥜: Don’t skip the garnishes! Toasted peanuts, crispy noodles, or a sprinkle of fresh red chilli can turn a good San Choi Bow into an unforgettable one.
- Make it Vegetarian 🌱: Swap out the pork mince for tofu, mushrooms, or a plant-based mince for a vegetarian version. Just make sure you adjust the sauce to suit your protein of choice.
Serving Suggestions 🍽️
San Choi Bow is versatile enough to serve as a light dinner, a quick lunch, or even an appetiser for a crowd. Here’s how I like to serve it:
- Arrange the lettuce cups on a large platter.
- Pile the pork filling into the cups just before serving to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- Set out small bowls of toppings—chilli, peanuts, crispy noodles, lime wedges—so everyone can customise their own cups. 🥜🌶️
If you’re serving this as a main meal, pair it with a refreshing side like a simple cucumber salad or some steamed jasmine rice for a heartier option.
Storage Options 🥡
One of the best things about San Choi Bow is how well the components store! Here’s how you can prep ahead or save leftovers:
- Cooked Filling: Store the pork mince mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in a pan over medium heat for the best results.
- Lettuce Cups: Washed and dried lettuce leaves can be stored in a ziplock bag or airtight container lined with a paper towel. Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: The pork filling freezes beautifully! Just portion it out into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Other Recipes to Try 🍽️
If you loved this San Choi Bow recipe, here are a few other quick and healthy dishes to add to your rotation:
Chicken Satay Skewers: Juicy, marinated chicken skewers with a creamy peanut sauce. Perfect for BBQs or weeknight dinners.
Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls: Light, fresh, and customisable with your favourite fillings.
Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry: A quick one-pan dish loaded with veggies and a glossy, sweet-savoury sauce.
I hope you love making (and eating!) this San Choi Bow recipe as much as I do. It’s quick, healthy, and ridiculously tasty—what more could you ask for? Don’t forget to snap a photo of your creation and share it with me on Instagram @steph_cooks_stuff. I’d love to see your delicious lettuce cups in action! 📸🌿
Happy cooking, and enjoy your delicious San Choi Bow! 🥬✨
San Choi Bow
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
🔥 Quick & Tasty San Choi Bow – A 15-Minute Dinner Winner! 🥬✨
If you’re looking for a quick, fresh, and flavor-packed meal, San Choi Bow is the answer! This dish brings together crunchy lettuce cups filled with perfectly seasoned pork, crisp veggies, and a tangy, umami-rich sauce. It’s the ultimate weeknight go-to! 💛
I whipped this up using fresh ingredients from ALDI, and my Sunbeam Diamond Force Frypan made the cooking process smooth and effortless. The secret to the best San Choi Bow? Let that pork mince brown and crisp up before stirring—it adds a whole new level of flavor! 😋
Topped with fresh lime, crispy noodles, and a sprinkle of peanuts, this dish is guaranteed to impress. Whether you’re making it for a light dinner or serving it up at a gathering, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Let me know if you try it! 🥢✨
Ingredients
- 500gm Ironbark Pork Mince
- 1 tsp Stone Mill crushed Garlic
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 1 tsp Stone Mill crushed Cinger
- 1 handful of The Fresh Salad Co. bagged Coleslaw mix
- 1 handful of Hugo’s Fresh Bean Sprouts
- Nature’s Pick Baby Gem Lettuce
- Generous squeeze of fresh Lime
- Optional – Crispy Noodles, toasted Peanuts, and fresh Chilli to serve
San Choy Bow Sauce Mix
- 1 tsp White Wine Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tbsp Kecap Manis
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sugar
Instructions
- If making your own San choy bow sauce, mix together the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
- Heat the frypan (or wok) to a high temp and add Pork mince, break up with a wooden spoon. Don’t keep stirring and leave it till it’s brown and crunchy. Once done, give it one final stir..
- Add the Onion, Garlic and Ginger and stir on high flame for a minute. Make sure the Pork mince is all broken up.
- Next, add San Choi Bow sauce, a handful of Bean Sprouts and Coleslaw mix. Give it a good mix. You don’t want to cook this too much. Stir until the Coleslaw ix has softened and the sauce has reduced..
- Turn the heat off.
- Get the lettuce ready by cutting the bottom a break off the whole leavec cups for the San Choi Bow mix.
- Now, chop some Red Chilli for garnish and keep it aside. Stir it in the Lime juice in the San Choi Bow mix.
- Serve inside Lettuce cups with optional toppings depending what you have on hand to garnish. I have used Salted Peanuts, Crispy Noodles and some spicy Red Chilli!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Stir-fried and served in lettuce cups.
- Cuisine: This dish is inspired by Asian cuisine, specifically the concept of minced meat served in lettuce cups. It's a simplified and adapted version, not a traditional recipe from a specific region. The use of Kecap Manis suggests Indonesian influence, while the overall style is reminiscent of various Southeast Asian stir-fries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Swap out the soy sauce and oyster sauce for gluten-free alternatives. Tamari is a great gluten-free substitute for soy sauce.
You can use chicken, turkey, beef, or even a plant-based mince for a vegetarian option. Just adjust the seasoning to suit the protein.
Choose a sturdy lettuce like Baby Gem or Iceberg, and handle the leaves gently when separating them. Chilling the lettuce can also help keep it firm and crunchy.