Hallelujah for a new week! I’m sure it seemed quiet around here last week, but a lot was going on behind the scenes. This website is now operating like it’s 2017, thanks to a new server with better technology. I think it’s all running properly now, but please let me know if see anything strange—pages not loading properly, features not working, and so forth.
Acronyms and technical terms are still swimming around in my head, but I wasn’t totally out of touch last week. My friends Maria and Jessica launched their helpful new menu planning service, Sweet Peas Meals! Definitely check it out.
I was also working on the site in the early a.m. when Nordstrom’s big annual sale launched, so I snagged some practical items for my family’s upcoming trip to Glacier National Park—including this warm vest, more SmartWool socks (the best) and those leggings that everyone tells me are so great (those are affiliate links). I’ll report back on what proves worthy in my August roundup.
Am I the only one who awaits packages in the mail like Christmas morning? It never gets old. Anyway, I’ll quit chatting and tell you about these vegetable lettuce wraps that I promised you last week. It might be hard to tell from the photos, but you’re looking at a crisp butter lettuce leaf topped with edamame hummus, sesame-soy soba noodles, and quick-pickled veggies.
These lettuce wraps are easy to make, fun to look at, and even tastier than they look. They would make a perfect light summer meal or appetizer at your next party. If you plan on having leftovers, just store the individual components separately in the fridge and assemble before serving.
I had a hard time capturing all those vibrant colors in one photograph, so I hope these photos do them proper justice. Please share your results with me on Instagram with the hashtag #cookieandkate!
Colorful Veggie Lettuce Wraps
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 lettuce wraps 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: By hand
- Cuisine: Asian
These healthy vegetable lettuce wraps are colorful and delicious! This recipe is a perfect appetizer or light meal. It’s vegetarian, vegan & easily gluten free (see notes). Recipe yields about 12 lettuce wraps, enough for about 3 main meals or 6 appetizer servings.
Ingredients
- 2 heads of butter lettuce (also called Boston or Bibb lettuce)
- 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) edamame hummus (plain hummus is good, too)
-
3 cups very thinly sliced crisp vegetables (I like 1 cup each purple cabbage, carrot and radish)
-
¼ cup rice vinegar
-
¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 ½ ounces soba noodles*
- ¾ cup thinly sliced green onions (from about 1 small bunch)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, preferably black, plus a few more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce*
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil for the soba noodles. Carefully remove about 12 intact lettuce leaves from your heads of lettuce, and set aside (save the smaller leaves and use them in a salad).
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the sliced vegetables, vinegar and salt, and toss to combine. Let the mixture marinate, tossing occasionally, for at least 10 minutes.
- Cook the soba noodles just until al dente, according to package directions (usually about 4 minutes). Drain the noodles, then return them to the pot (off the heat) and stir in the green onions, sesame seeds, tamari and sesame oil. Set aside.
- To assemble the lettuce wraps, spread a dollop of hummus over the center of a lettuce leaf. Top with a small handful of soba noodles, then pickled veggies. Sprinkle lightly with additional sesame seeds, if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Storage suggestions: If you plan to have leftover lettuce wraps, store individual components separately, and assemble just before serving (otherwise, the lettuce will wilt).
*Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free tamari (San-J brand is gluten free) and soba noodles (100% buckwheat). Not all tamari and soba noodles are gluten free, so be sure to check the labels.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Maria
Love the bright colors!
Kate
Thanks, Maria! They were really fun to shoot.
Heather Christo
I just blurted out loud at work “oh these look good!”- and they really do, I can’t wait to make these!
Kate
Haha! Thanks, friend. Let me know how they turn out!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Glad things are running smoothy! Computer stuff is the worst.
These wraps are awesome. I’m all about that crunch factor!
Kate
Thanks! It took a while, but it looks like things are back on track. I hope you try the wraps!
Meredith Youngson
Holy texture and flavour! I looooove this healthy way to enjoy soba noodles.
Kate
Thanks, Meredith! I love the noodles in there, too– unexpected, but delicious!
Gaby Dalkin
Love all of the different colors and textures!
Kate
Me, too! This is a summertime snack if I’ve ever seen one.
Aimee
Smartwool makes the BEST socks – but I’m a little biased, as I used to work for them. I love Glacier National Park, I camped there for a week last year. Definitely sneak out of the park and go to Hungry Horse Reservoir (it’s less crowded and you can snag a camp site with your own beach!)
Kate
Ooh, I’ll have to check that out, Aimee! Thanks for the tips.
Lexi @Lexi'scleankitchen
I love how simple this recipe is!! I have beautiful radishes from my CSA and have been wondering what to do with them! SO excited to make this!
Michele
Hi Kate, I have made MANY of your recipes and your blog is my go-to for dinner or pot luck inspiration, but what has prompted me to comment is to let you know that there are WAY better socks out there than smartwool. Darn Tough socks are the way to go! They last much longer, don’t get holes in the heels, and they are made in my little state of Vermont! I promise you will never buy another pair of smartwool again after you try Darn Tough!
Kate
Thanks for the tip, Michele! I’ll have to check those out.
lindsay Cotter
well I would totally be waiting for that package too! Fun trip! And love these wraps, the colors are SWOON worthy for sure kate!
Kate
Thanks, Lindsay!
Dhyan Atkinson
This recipe looks great for a hot summer day! (By the way, Kate, I just bought your book at the Boulder Barnes and Noble. I’m glad to have it. You did a great job!) Dhyan in Boulder
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for picking up the book, Dhyan! I hope you love it.
Gerry Speirs
These look so fresh and great for summer!!
Kate
Thanks, Gerry! I hope you get a chance to try them.
Erin
I know what I want for lunch! Yum!
jami
I always look forward to your email: And my dog, Cookie, does too!
Good job. Sit. Stay.
★★★★★
Kate
Haha! Thanks, Jami.
Jill Harrison
These look so fresh and beautiful. Right up my alley as most of your food is. I just bought your cookbook – saw it at Anthropologie over the weekend. I knew I wanted it but just did not make it to Amazon. Turned out Anthropoligie had a 20% off sale so I bought a gift for a co-worker and one for me – your cookbook. So excited! I looked quickly but have not had a chance to really “read” it and get started using it. That will be this weekend. Thanks Kate and of course Cookie for always making me smile.
Kate
I’m so glad you found my book, Jill! I hope you enjoy it. Cookie says hello!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby
I would have never thought to add noodles to lettuce wraps, I bet this taste super good!
Kate
I hope you try it, Kelli! The noodles are an unexpected but delicious addition. :)
Liza
Love your website! I am also gradually working my way through your cookbook- my non-vegetarian mom and my aunt also got copies and we like to text each other pictures of which recipes we are making. So far, everything has been delicious!
PS. SmartWool socks are ok, but I prefer Bridgedales… Just a suggestion for the next time you need good wool socks. :)
Kate
I love that you’re working your way through the cookbook as a family! Too cute. Remember to post on Instagram with #cookieandkate and #loverealfood so I can see, too! And yes, I’ve been getting lots of good recommendations for wool socks. I’m going to have to test each one. ;)
sam-c
Those look so tasty. So, dumb question from a person new to lettuce wraps- do you roll that up like a taco or burrito to eat it, or are you supposed to eat it with a fork and knife?
thanks!
Kate
Not a dumb question at all, Sam! I eat mine taco-style.
Donya L Hagler
These look amazing! Staci and I are trying to do better during the week (thank goodness it’s Friday!) and I can get my hands on these for sure. And I LOVE butter lettuce, it’s so versatile. Have a great weekend!
Kate
I hope you get a chance to try these, Donya!
Katherine Duckett
I Just made these for dinner and they were delicious! My whole family loved them. Easy to put together and fun to assemble at the table. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes!
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed these, Katherine. I love an interactive meal!
Agness of Run Agness Run
I love colorful recipes like this one, Kate! I will definitely give it a try! Can I use any other kind of lettuce?
Kate
I don’t see why not, Agness! Butter lettuce just makes perfect little cups, but I’d think it would work well with romaine hearts, too.
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
Hooray for tech issues being behind you and looking forward to GNP! Loving all the textures and flavors in this scrumptious recipe, Kate! It’s absolutely vibrate and simple enough for a weeknight dinner! Delicious!
Kate
I KNOW, I’m so glad they’re over. So tedious. I hope you try the veggie wraps, Traci!
Kelly Senyei @ Just a Taste
Love the vibrant colors of these lettuce wraps! And they are the perfect no-cook option for summer!
Kate
YES, these are great, especially when turning on the stove sounds like the last thing you want to do.
Erin
Yum!! I was a little skeptical at first but will definitely make this again…probably frequently. Lots of chopping involved, but I enjoy that. Based on our taste preferences, I eliminated the hummus and planned on using smashed avocado instead but forgot and just went with the lettuce, soba, and pickled veggies and it turned out fantastic!
★★★★★
Katie
I made these last night- I substituted cucumbers for the radishes, parsley for the cilantro in the hummus- They were amazing!! I would never ever have thought of putting noodles into a recipe like that! Thanks for amazing recipes that are easy to make, taste great, and are easily adapted!!
Kate
Thanks, Katie! The noodles are unexpected, but I think they work well with this!
Ellis Ann McClung
Man, I am impressed. These were so simple and yummy. I even forgot to get radish, so next time it will have even more flavor.
★★★★
Kate
Great! Thanks, Ellis!
Susan L. Fior
Well…I am running late on trying this recipe but my college kids left me with a bag of edamame in the freezer and after one of your salads that required red cabbage, I was at my wits end as to how I was going to use up these two ingredients. Solution? These fabulous wraps. Delicious. Inspired. Love them. A hit with my doubting husband. Thanks, Kate, for another great recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you were left with some edamame from your kids, then! Thanks for sharing, Susan. I appreciate the star review.
Patty Mochel
I made these as appetizers for Christmas dinner, and they were a big hit! I have vegetarians and carnivores in my family, and had a half-pound of crab left from Christmas Eve’s dinner. I made these as an alternative to the Crab Louie lettuce wraps I made. The veggie wraps were very popular – everyone loved them! We especially liked the pickled vegetables. And they were easy to put together and serve as I finished last-minute touches for the dinner. Thanks for a great recipe.
Kate
I’m happy to hear they were a hit, Patty! Thanks for sharing!
Liz Ofstad
Disgusting. Threw it all away.
★
Kate
Really? I truly loved these lettuce wraps. Sorry to hear that you didn’t. Would appreciate any more specific feedback you might have to offer.
NM
Do you need to roast the sesame seeds?
Kate
You don’t have to! Toasted is always nice.
Hope Coulter
I absolutely love these. Amazing flavor combinations and so nourishing. My husband and 5 children also enjoy them.
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! Thanks for sharing, Hope.
JJ Katis
Just made this for lunch. Delicious! I used rice noodels instead since I can’t find any Soba noodles here in this part of Mexico. I do have a preference on the way a recipe is written. For me, it is better is the ingredients are listed as they are used. This recipe is not complicated, very flavorful and great on hot days. I will be making it again.
★★★★★
Sharon
The last few days have been beastly hot, and I was starting to run out of “summer supper” ideas. Then I drifted through my FB newsfeed and there you were–with this beautiful idea! I have udon noodles which I think will work okay, and tomorrow I will grab some hummous from our tiny country grocery (I’m being summer lazy). Can’t wait to try them tomorrow, and I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks!