Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Shrimp tossed in spicy sauce served in crisp lettuce with fresh vegetables and tangy dressing.

# What You 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 option

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, sriracha, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Toss to coat evenly.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add shrimp mixture. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and are fully cooked. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Fill each leaf with cooked shrimp, julienned carrots, julienned cucumber, sliced red bell pepper, and sliced green onions.
05 - Drizzle the prepared sauce over the filled lettuce cups or serve it on the side. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
06 - Serve immediately as a light main course or appetizer.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something that tastes like you tried harder than you actually did.
  • Every bite stays light and fresh because you're eating actual vegetables, not pretending lettuce counts as a side.
  • The sauce is tangy and spicy enough to make plain shrimp interesting, but not so heavy that you feel sluggish afterward.
02 -
  • Shrimp cook fast, almost faster than your brain registers that the pan is hot enough—watch them closely because the difference between perfectly cooked and rubbery is about 60 seconds.
  • The lettuce leaves are only as crisp as the moment you assemble them, so have everything prepped and ready before the shrimp hits the pan.
  • If your sauce tastes flat, it needs lime juice; if it's too hot, whisk in a bit more mayo to cool it down.
03 -
  • Have everything cut and ready before you start cooking shrimp, because once they're done, you have about three minutes before they start to cool down.
  • The sauce tastes better if you make it while the shrimp cooks, so the flavors have a moment to meld before you serve it.
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