Grilled Hoisin Chicken in Lettuce Cups

This delicious appetizer is visually appealing and fun to eat. It also works as a light main course.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 6-8 as a starter

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup hoisin sauce
• 4  teaspoons rice vinegar
• 1  tablespoon soy sauce
• 4  boneless skinless chicken thighs (rinsed and patted dry)
•  kosher salt
• 3  heads boston lettuce, very small inner leaves from, washed and dried (or larger leaves from 1 head Boston lettuce if serving as a main course)
• 1  cup  loosely packed torn fresh basil (about 20 large leaves)
• 1  cup  loosely packed torn of fresh mint
• 1  bunch green onion, thinly sliced (whites and most of the greens)
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely chopped salted peanuts
• 1  fresh jalapenos or 1  small hot chili pepper, very thinly sliced crosswise

Directions

1. Heat a grill to medium high. In a small bowl, whisk the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. In a larger bowl, season the chicken with 1 tsp salt and 2 TBS of the hoison mixture.
2. Grill the chicken thighs, covered, until well browned and beginning to blacken around the edges, about 5 minutes (rotate the chicken 90 degrees halfway through cooking for the most even cooking). Flip and continue to grill until cooked through (rotating again), about another 5 minutes. let the chicken rest for 8 to 10 minutes and then chop into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch dice. Transfer the chopped chicken to a mixing bowl, add the remaining hoisinmixture, and toss to coat thoroughly.
3. Spoon the chicken into very small lettuce leaves, garnish with the basil, mint, green onions, peanuts and jalapeno slices (if using). Arrange the filled leaves on a platter and serve.
4. alternatively, to serve as a main course, put the chopped and dressed chicken in a serving bowl. Arrange larger lettuce leaves, basil and mint separately on a platter and put the green onions, peanuts and jalapeno slices in small serving bowls. To serve, have diners spoon the chicken onto the middle of a lettuce leaf, top with the herbs and condiments, and roll the edges of the lettuce leaves up and around the filling.