Mango & Zucchini Lettuce Wraps

Filled with sweet & spicy components & dipped in a bright sauce, these lettuce wraps are the perfect combination of simplicity & bold flavor.

mango and zucchini lettuce wraps

As the temps have been rising, I’ve been craving food that’s lighter and colder. Lately we’ve spent most evenings dining al fresco trying to live it up before the 100 degree weather sets in. Chill evenings call for chilled food and these lettuce wraps are just so refreshing…. a beautiful appetizer, or (in our case) a light dinner.

The thing I love about eating these lettuce wraps is that you can eat lots of them without feeling too guilty. For me, eating light is never about eating less food. But the most important thing you need for outdoor dining is a big platter to load everything onto. You don’t want to have to make multiple trips for herbs and dipping sauces, etc. – plus one of you has to carry the wine. This Heritage Platter from Q Squared is absolutely perfect – it’s become my go-to platter for patio meals – plus how pretty are those colors!

Lettuce Wrap Recipe Ingredients

How to Serve Lettuce Wraps

When we eat lettuce wraps for dinner, I pile all of the components onto a big platter. The leaves of romaine lettuce sit next to thin, sweet slices of mango, ribbons of zucchini, torn herbs, and radishes sliced into matchsticks. That way, each of us can fill our wraps to our liking. I always try to get a good mix of sweet & savory, soft & crisp ingredients in every wrap. This method is perfect if you want to make these for a party appetizer – that way, guests can customize their lettuce wraps!

I also always serve these veggie wraps with a dipping sauce. This sweet soy ginger combination is easy & delicious, but if you want to get fancier, peanut sauce or basil sauce would be great with here as well.

Asian lettuce wraps dipping sauce

Lettuce Wrap Recipe Variations

You could make these yummy Asian lettuce wraps a thousand ways. I love the combo that’s printed here, but any of these variations would be fantastic:

  • Swap out the mint for Thai basil or cilantro, or use all three.
  • Use baked tofu in place of the edamame, or, if you’re not vegetarian, try grilled chicken or fish!
  • Try using thinly sliced peaches in place of the mango.
  • Add vermicelli noodles instead of kelp noodles.
  • Top the wraps with slices of avocado.
  • Or use other veggies you have on hand – yellow or red bell pepper or Persian cucumber ribbons would both be great choices.

Pile everything onto a serving platter, load up the lettuce leaves to your liking, and enjoy with plenty of dipping sauce!

mango and zucchini lettuce wraps on a platter

If you love these Asian lettuce wraps…

Try some more cool, fresh recipes! I heartily recommend this mango salsa, this gazpacho, or a watermelon or corn salad.


5.0 from 2 reviews

Mango & Zucchini Lettuce Wraps

 
Prep time
Total time
 
These fresh lettuce wraps are a great party appetizer or light summer dinner! Change up the veggies and herbs to your liking, and serve with generous drizzles of dipping sauce.
Author:
Recipe type: Main dish, appetizer
Serves: 2 as a light meal, 4 as an appetizer
Ingredients
  • Romaine lettuce leaves
  • ½ cup kelp noodles (optional)
  • 1 zucchini, julienned
  • ½ mango, thinly sliced
  • 2-3 radishes, sliced into thin sticks
  • ¼ cup chopped scallions
  • 1-2 Thai red peppers, sliced
  • Handful of fresh mint
  • Edamame, baked tofu, or a protein of your choice
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Sriracha, for serving
Ginger soy dipping sauce:
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons honey or agave syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • Diced Thai chili pepper (optional)
Instructions
  1. Prep all your veggies and arrange on a platter. Mix the dipping sauce together.
  2. Serve with lime wedges and sriracha, assembling your lettuce wraps to your liking.

 

I used this julienne peeler for the zucchini strips.

This post is sponsored by Q Squared, thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep us cooking!

38 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Cube Automation
    07.13.2020

    Loved it!!

  2. Thanks for sharing – looks delicious and nutritious. Very inspiring.

  3. Sandy
    09.05.2014

    This looks like such a happy dish :). It cheers me up just by looking at it.

  4. Sonia
    06.21.2014

    Hi… Was wondering what you use to julienne everything so beautifully? Thanks!

    • jeanine
      06.21.2014

      I used a julienne peeler for the zucchini, and I just sliced the mango with a paring knife (it was too delicate to get through the julienne peeler, I tried :)). I’ll put a link to the one I have at the bottom of the post under the recipe!

  5. Hot weather and lettuce wraps go together like peanut butter and jelly. Lovely recipe.

  6. I can’t believe what a beautiful job you did in making these. Perfectly slivered, gorgeous color, low in calories—-and yes I would get fancy with peanut sauce. It would be divine!

    • jeanine
      06.13.2014

      thanks Carol 🙂

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.