Vietnamese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I believe these will continue to be a New Years Eve tradition. We made them last year as well and they are so tasty and pretty easy to make, minus the lettuce cups!  Marie and I both elected to use less cayenne pepper because these bad boys can get pretty spicy! For those of you who like spice, use the amount suggested.  

Vietnamese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 lb fresh ground chicken or turkey (we actually both used turkey)

1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped or grated
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped
5 mushrooms, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup cooked vermicielli or bean thread noodles
1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
16 iceberg lettuce leaves

Spicy Sauce:
5 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons Thai or Vietnamese hot sauce, or any hot sauce
5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

1. In large skillet over medium-high heat, warm peanut oil.  Add onion, ginger and garlic; sauté until onion begins to brown, about 3 minutes.  Add ground chicken and sauté until cooked throughout, about 5 minutes, breaking up chicken meat as it cooks.
2. Add carrot, scallions, water chestnuts and mushrooms; cook for additional 3 minutes.  Add fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and cayenne pepper.  Mix well and remove from heat.  Stir in noodles, peanuts and chopped cilantro.  Toss well to combine.  Transfer to large serving bowl and keep warm.
3. Combine all spicy sauce ingredients in small serving bowl; whisk well.  Place lettuce leaves on serving platter.  To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons chicken mixture over or on top of each lettuce leaf; drizzle with 1 teaspoon sauce.