CHEF JEFF -- ONE BYTE AT A TIME: Oriental Express Beef Lettuce Wraps

In a lot of states, May is Beef Month. Here's a recipe to mark that observation.

Oriental Express Beef Lettuce Wraps

1½ pounds 95 percent lean ground beef

½ cup hoisin sauce

½ cup Asian peanut sauce

1 medium cucumber, seeded, chopped

½ cup shredded carrot

¼ cut torn fresh mint leaves (or chopped green onion tops)

Salt and pepper

12 large Boston lettuce leaves (about 2 heads), or iceberg or Romaine lettuce

Fresh mint leaves

Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is not pink, breaking up into small crumbles. Pour off drippings. Stir in hoisin sauce and peanut sauce; heat through. Just before serving, add cucumber, carrots and torn mint (or substitute chopped green onion tops); toss gently. Serve beef mixture in lettuce leaves. Garnish with mint or chopped green onion tops.

Yield: Serves 4.

Grab more food tidbits at the Chef Jeff blog at GrandForksHerald.com.