• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
About Work With Me Latest Posts

Pinterest

Instagram

Dietitian Debbie Dishes

Dishing Up Healthy, Vegetarian Eats

  • Winter
  • Recipe Index
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • 10 Ingredients or Less
      • Healthy Bowls
      • Meal Prep
      • No Bake
      • One Pot
      • Quick and Easy
    • Course
      • Beverages
      • Breakfast
      • Dessert
      • Main Dish
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks & Appetizers
      • Condiments and Sauces
    • Season
      • Fall
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Winter
  • Nutrition

Pinterest

Instagram

About Work With Me Latest Posts
Home » Recipe » Diet » Vegan

Vegan Lettuce Wraps

Created On: July 1, 2022 | By Debbie | 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Share Pin

This post may include affiliate links. To learn more, see my privacy policy.

These vegan lettuce wraps with tempeh can be whipped up in a matter of minutes for a simple and delicious weeknight dinner meal. Crumbled tempeh gets stir fried in a flavorful sauce before wrapping in tender lettuce leaves. A favorite summer recipe of mine!

vegan lettuce wraps with sesame seeds

This post was originally published on 6/7/2019, but has been updated with more instructions and a few tweaks to make this recipe even better. I hope you love it!

Say hello to one of your new favorite weeknight recipes for summer! This vegan tempeh lettuce wrap recipe take less that 30 minutes to whip up and they are just jam packed with flavor. Crumbled tempeh gets stir fried in a flavorful sauce before wrapping in tender lettuce leaves.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Why You’ll Love this Recipe
  • Ingredients for Vegan Lettuce Wraps
  • How to Make Vegan Lettuce Cups
  • Recipe Notes:
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • What to Serve with these Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
  • Vegan Lettuce Wraps

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Quick: Can be whipped up in less than 20 minutes in just one skillet on the stove.
  • Warm Weather Friendly: A great option for warm weather since there is no need to heat up the oven and the time spent cooking the vegan lettuce cups at the stovetop is minimal.
  • Versatile: Can be served as an appetizer OR as a light main entree.
  • Gluten Free: With a couple swaps like gluten free tempeh and tamari instead of soy sauce this recipe can easily be made without any gluten. Tempeh is usually gluten free but you have to read the ingredient list carefully as some brands add grains to their tempeh that may contain gluten.
vegan lettuce wrap ingredients labelled.

Ingredients for Vegan Lettuce Wraps

  • Tempeh: tempeh is one of my favorite plant-based proteins since it is so adaptable for recipes that typically feature a ground meat. Find tempeh in the refrigerator section of the grocery by the tofu. You can also sub crumbled tofu or a plant-based meat alternative like ground Beyond Meat for the tempeh.
  • Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil: Adds lots of umami flavor. Use tamari instead of soy sauce if you want this dish to be gluten free.
  • Peanut Butter: Adds a little richness to the flavorful sauce on the tempeh.
  • Ginger: Pairs well with the other flavors in this vegetarian lettuce wrap recipe. Fresh ginger will add more flavor, but you can use about 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger instead.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic will have the most flavor, but you can use about 1 teaspoon garlic powder if you’d like.

How to Make Vegan Lettuce Cups

vegan lettuce wrap sauce in bowl with whisk.
browned tempeh in skillet.
cooked tempeh in skillet with sauce.

STEP 1: Start by stirring up the marinade you’ll use for the tempeh which includes: soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, ginger, brown sugar, and broth.

STEP 2: Toss your tempeh in the pan with the oil to brown. Turn off the heat and and stir in the marinade.

STEP 3: Assemble your vegan lettuce wraps and garnish with sesame seeds, chopped mint, chopped fresh cilantro, etc. Squeeze a bit of lime on just before serving.

Vegan tempeh lettuce cups with bowl of garnishes.

Recipe Notes:

  • Serve it up in lettuce leaves for a super simple plant-based entree or vegan appetizer. We used butter lettuce and purple romaine leaves for our lettuce cups but you could use iceberg lettuce as well. (I saw the purple romaine at the farmers market last week and had to get it for this recipe!) You can also serve the filling in a tortilla or flour wrap if you want.
  • Jazz up your vegan tempeh lettuce cups up by garnishing them with some fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeño, green onion, extra sriracha, sesame seeds, mint, and/or a squeeze of lime. Go crazy and do them all or pick a couple that sound most appealing to you. Chopped Thai basil is also a great garnish option if you can find it.
  • Want even more sauce or want something for dipping your lettuce wraps? Drizzle on some of this peanut sauce!
  • Add more veggies to bulk up the filling. Chopped water chestnuts are a popular addition (I just don’t like them!). You can also add a bit of shredded carrot, chopped peppers, or a bit of bok choy to these easy vegetarian lettuce wraps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tempeh?

Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans that have been pressed into cake. Although that may sound unappetizing, tempeh is a great plant-based protein option for quick and easy meals like this one! For this recipe, you’ll crumble up the tempeh to use it in place of the ground chicken or pork that is normally used in lettuce cups.

Can I use tofu instead of tempeh?

Yep! Use firm tofu that has been pressed for a few minutes to remove the extra moisture. Crumble with your hands and stir fry it just like you would the tempeh in the recipe below.

What lettuce is best for lettuce wraps?

Choose a lettuce with large leaves, usually wee and up buying a head of lettuce for this recipe vs bagged lettuce. Use a tender leaf lettuce like Bibb lettuce or butter lettuce for wraps that are easy to hold. If you prefer some crunch, use romaine lettuce leaves OR iceberg. You can also use cabbage leaves.

vegan lettuce wraps in a bowl with jalapeño

What to Serve with these Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

We love to serve it up with this peanut butter stir fry sauce as a dip. Here are a few suggestions that would be tasty side dishes with these lettuce wraps:

  • Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa

    Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa (Vegan, Gluten Free)

  • Cauliflower Fried Rice with Tofu | Vegan, Vegetarian, Grain Free

    Cauliflower Fried Rice with Tofu

  • Vegan Egg Roll in a Bowl

  • Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce and Mixed Vegetables

    Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Make Ahead and Storage

The filling for these lettuce cups can be made 2-3 days in advance and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, add to a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with a splash of water and sauté until warmed through.

Filling can be frozen and reheated in the microwave or in skillet on the stovetop.

Looking for other tasty tempeh recipes? Check out these!

  • Buffalo tempeh salads
  • Spicy tempeh stuffed peppers
  • Mexican tempeh skillet casserole
vegan tempeh lettuce cups on white background

Vegan Lettuce Wraps

Created by: Deborah Murphy

Course Appetizer, Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine Asian-inspired, Gluten-free, Vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
6 lettuce wraps
These vegan lettuce wraps with tempeh can be whipped up in a matter of minutes for a simple and delicious weeknight dinner meal. I see myself eating these on repeat all summer long!
Print
Pin
Share
Rate
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • 1 non-stick skillet
  • 1 microplane

Ingredients
  

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce (tamari if gluten free)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 clove garlic, grated

Tempeh

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 8 oz tempeh crumbled

To Serve

  • Lettuce leaves, jalapeño, lime, sesame seeds, mint, green onion

Instructions

Make the Sauce

  • Add the soy sauce, water, peanut butter, sriracha, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 

Make the Tempeh

  • Add the oil to a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tempeh to the pan with the leftover oil and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Pour sauce over the tempeh. Turn off the heat and stir to coat. 

Assemble

  • To assemble, add tempeh to lettuce leaves and add desired toppings like green onion, cilantro, mint, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime.

Video

Notes

  • Serves 2 people as a main dish or 3-4 as an appetizer. 
  • Stir together the sauce ingredients and store in an airtight jar up to 3 days in advance. You can also make the filling a couple days in advance and reheat in a skillet with a splash of water. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1lettuce wrap | Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 273mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

Make this recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @dietitiandebbie and tag me #dietitiandebbie

Email Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe

posted in: Main Dish, One Pot, Quick and Easy, Snacks & Appetizers, Summer, Tempeh, Vegan, Veganuary

Previous
Easy Vegan Taco Skillet
Next
The BEST Homemade Vegan Granola

Reader Interactions

    5 from 3 votes

    Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

    Share your thoughts!
    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *
    Rate this recipe!




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Comments & Reviews

  1. FA says

    May 3, 2025

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe with worcestershire sauce last time, and tamari this time. Both are so aromatic and good. This recipe is so far the only way I enjoy tempeh. I would recommend using low sodium sauce as the tamarin made it quite salty.

    Reply
  2. vivian says

    June 20, 2024

    5 stars
    Excellent dish for a hot day. Made with tempeh for me and ground beef for the meat eaters. Both were excellent. Served with your peanut sauce and ginger rice. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Deborah Murphy MS, RDN says

      June 20, 2024

      So glad to hear you liked it!

      Reply
  3. Elisabet says

    December 21, 2020

    5 stars
    Easy to make and soooo delicious!
    Liz

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Debbie - Author of Dietitian Debbie.

Welcome!

I'm Debbie, a Registered Dietitian and the writer behind this blog where you’ll find healthy, seasonal, vegan & vegetarian recipes! I'm on a mission to inspire you to eat more plants.

More About Me

Free Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest + our free meal plan!

Search

Fall Recipes

  • roasted butternut squash and red pepper soup in bowl with croutons.
    Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
  • red lentil pumpkin soup
    One Pot Red Lentil Pumpkin Soup
  • vegan apple crisp in bowl.
    Apple Crisp with Maple Syrup
  • Easy Kale Apple Walnut Salad
  • vegan baked pumpkin donuts with maple frosting on white marble
    Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts
  • Four Bean Vegan Chili
    Vegan Slow Cooker Chili

Popular Recipes

  • Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa
    Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa (Vegan, Gluten Free)
  • Warm Faro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables
  • 8 Healthy Ways to Flavor Your Oats
  • beet juice made in blender.
    Beet Juice Recipe (Blender)
  • pineapple cucumber smoothie in glass with slice of cucumber.
    Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie
  • vegan cream cheese stuffed peppers on a white plate.
    Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

What's For Dinner?

V
Vegan
GF
Gluten Free
VG
Vegetarian
  • Quick and Easy Recipes. Quick + Easy
  • One Pan Recipes. One Pan
  • Healthy Bowl Recipes. Salads
  • Healthy Bowl Recipes. Healthy Bowls

Browse Topics

  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
  • Main dish
  • Salads
  • Side Dishes
  • Snacks & Appetizers
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Dietitian Debbie Submark

FREE Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

When you subscribe to the newsletter.

Connect

Follow on Pinterest

Follow on Instagram

Get In Touch

©2025, Dietitian Debbie Dishes. All Rights Reserved. About Privacy Policy Accessibility Policy
Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Free Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest + our free meal plan!

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.