by DearSugar 50

Dear Sugar,
I have been eating so heavily for the past month it's time for me to start cutting calories and carbs a little bit. Do you have any recipes for a satisfying dinner that will ensure I fill up so I don't wind up snacking on junk later? Hungry Hilda

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Dear Hungry Hilda
I've got a great recipe that should take no longer than 30-40 minutes. Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps have no carbs and since they are small you can eat however many you want (within reason) and it will slow you down, so by the time you reach to make your fourth, you may actually even feel full! Perfect. Enjoy:

CHINESE CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS:

2 cups fresh shitake mushrooms
1 1/2 lbs thin cut chicken breasts (or tenders)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 dash of course salt and course black pepper
3 garlic cloves chopped
1 inch piece of ginger (finely chopped)
zest of one orange
1/2 red bell pepper (diced small)
1 can of water chestnuts chopped
3 scallions chopped
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
1/2 head of iceberg lettuce (quarter into wedges)
1 head of Boston bibb lettuce (separate leaves)

PREPARE AND COOK:
Slice the mushroom and chop the chicken into small pieces. Preheat a large skillet to high and add oil to the pan. Add the chicken to the pan and sear the meat by stir frying for one to two minutes. Season with dashes of salt and pepper. Next add the garlic and the ginger. Cook for 1 minute.

Grate the orange zest into the pan (keep the orange). Add the chopped bell pepper, water chestnuts and scallions. Cook for one minute. Add the hoisin sauce and toss to coat the mixture evenly. Transfer the hot chopped chicken to a platter and pile the wedges of iceberg lettuce along side. After you zest the orange, cut it and add it to the platter as garnish.

TO EAT:
Pile the chicken mixture into the Boston bibb lettuce leaves, fold and eat.