Fresh Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Cups (Printable)

Fresh shrimp folded in crisp lettuce leaves with spicy sauce and crisp veggies for a light meal.

# 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
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Greens

08 - 1 head butter 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)

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, sriracha, salt, and black pepper. Toss well to coat evenly.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. 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 carrot, cucumber, red bell pepper, and sliced green onions.
05 - Drizzle the prepared sauce over the filled lettuce cups or serve alongside. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in 30 minutes flat, making them perfect for busy weeknights when you want something special.
  • Every element stays crisp and fresh—there's no soggy, heavy feeling afterward.
  • You can prep the sauce and veggies ahead, then just cook the shrimp when people arrive.
  • They're naturally gluten-free and low-carb, so they work for almost any dietary preference without feeling restrictive.
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and tough—once they turn pink, they're done; the residual heat will finish them as they cool slightly.
  • Pat your shrimp dry before cooking, or they'll steam and release moisture instead of developing that golden, flavorful sear.
  • The sauce tastes better when it sits for a minute, letting the lime and sriracha flavors meld with the creamy base.
03 -
  • Buy pre-peeled, deveined shrimp to cut your prep time in half, but always pat them dry before cooking no matter what.
  • Make the sauce first and let it sit in the fridge while you cook; the flavors meld and it tastes noticeably better after even just 10 minutes.
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