3 Thai Lettuce Cups

It's been a while since I've posted a recipe, but I've been doing a lot of new recipes lately for my no carb/no sugar diet and last night I made the most amazing Thai-inspired beef.  I was going to do chili, but my husband wanted something different.  I had a bunch of cilantro that needed to be used, and the ingredients popped into my head from there.  There is nothing about it that screams "diet."  For me, this recipe makes 4 servings, so two go with my husband for lunch, and the other two make two meals for me.

Please forgive the messy bowl.

1 lb ground beef (I use 90/10 grass fed beef)
5 cloves minced garlic
1.5 tsp of grated ginger (more or less to taste...I like more, and I get a jar of ginger from TJ's and keep it in my fridge)
1 tbs soy sauce
1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbs fresh chopped basil (or I used two cubes of frozen Dorot basil.)
red pepper flakes to taste
salt and pepper to taste

In a dry pan over medium-high flame, brown the ground beef with some salt and pepper.  After it's all browned, add the garlic.

Sautee the beef in the garlic, and also add the ginger and red pepper flakes, and stir well so that they can cook a little and release all those delicious flavors.  Add the soy sauce and cook until no liquid remains.  Add the cilantro and basil towards the end, cook until they are just wilted.  Taste test and adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with lettuce cups like Boston lettuce or the beautiful ruffly purple and green Petit Oak, which is what I used, and some fresh lime wedges for that bright citrus flavor that pairs so well with those ingredients.

The cool crunch of the lettuce is the perfect pairing with this flavorful beef.  Yum!!