Shrimp Lettuce Cups

Instructions

1. Cook the rice

   Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 23 to 25 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork.

2. Prepare the ingredients

   Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the cucumber into rounds; place in a bowl. Add the vinegar and season with salt and pepper; stir to coat. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, at least 10 minutes. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Peel the carrots; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and hollow green tops. Finely chop the peanuts. Halve the lime crosswise. Cut off and discard the root end of the lettuce; separate the leaves. In a bowl, combine the chopped peanuts, peanut butter spread, honey (kneading the packet before opening), the juice of 1 lime half, and as much of the sambal oelek as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

3. Cook the carrots

   In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced carrots in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the sliced white bottoms of the scallions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened. Turn off the heat; stir in the juice of the remaining lime half. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out the pan.

4. Cook the shrimp

   Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels; remove the tails. Season with salt and pepper. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned shrimp in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly opaque. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until opaque and cooked through. Turn off the heat.

5. Serve your dish

   Serve the lettuce leaves, cooked shrimp, cooked rice, spicy peanut sauce, cooked carrots, marinated cucumber, and sliced green tops of the scallions separately. Assemble each cup using 2 lettuce leaves. Enjoy!