Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Fresh shrimp paired with crisp vegetables and tangy sauce wrapped in cool lettuce leaves.

# What you'll need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 tsp sriracha or chili sauce, adjust to taste
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Greens

08 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
09 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
10 - 1 small cucumber, julienned
11 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

→ Sauce

14 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
15 - 1 tbsp lime juice
16 - 1 tsp sriracha
17 - 1 tsp honey
18 - 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free

# How to make it:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, garlic, ginger, sriracha, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce until smooth.
04 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Fill each leaf with cooked shrimp, carrots, cucumber, bell pepper, and green onions.
05 - Drizzle sauce over the assembled cups or serve alongside. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes, making them perfect for weeknights when you want to feel like you actually cooked.
  • Everything stays fresh and crisp because the lettuce keeps things cool—no sad, soggy bites here.
  • Low-carb and naturally gluten-free without any fussing around, so they work for almost any dietary preference.
02 -
  • Shrimp go from perfect to rubbery in about 30 seconds—the moment they're pink and opaque through, take them off the heat or you'll regret it.
  • Cut all your vegetables just before assembling, not hours ahead, because they'll sweat and lose their crunch, which defeats the entire purpose.
03 -
  • Pat your shrimp completely dry with paper towels before cooking so they sear instead of steam—this makes all the difference between rubbery and tender.
  • Make the sauce up to a day ahead and store it in the fridge, then assemble the cups fresh right before eating for maximum crispness and flavor.
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