Korean-Style Lettuce Wraps

Robin Bashinsky
Updated
Get the recipe for Korean-Style Lettuce Wraps.

The inspiration for this recipe is a Korean dish called Bo Ssam, which traditionally involves tender pork shoulder, an assortment of toppings, and lettuce leaves for rolling everything up. The recipe feeds a crowd (about 12 people) and it’s fun to serve family-style at parties. Bring the whole pork roast to the table and let diners pull off pieces of meat and assemble their own wraps with kimchi and pickled vegetables. It’s completely okay to roast the pork a day ahead. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator, and then bring to room temperature before serving. The quick pickled vegetables can be made 2 days ahead; refrigerate them in an airtight container.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup sugar, divided

  • ¼ cup kosher salt, divided

  • 1 6-lb. bone-in pork shoulder

  • 1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced (2 cups)

  • 3 carrots, thinly sliced into matchsticks (2 cups)

  • 1 cup rice vinegar

  • 2 heads Bibb lettuce, leaves separated

  • 3 cups prepared kimchi

Nutrition

Calories 299.56

Fat 11.09g

Sat Fat 3.78g

Protein 30.57g

Carbohydrate 18.25g

Fiber 1.44g

Sugar 16.52g

Cholesterol 101.30mg

Iron 3.22mg

Sodium 1597.98mg

Calcium 51.48mg

Directions

  1. Combine ½ cup sugar and 3 tablespoons salt; rub mixture all over pork. Place pork in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 8 to 12 hours.

  2. Preheat oven to 300°F. Transfer pork, fat side up, to a heavy roasting pan, discarding any liquid in bowl. Roast until very tender and a thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 145°F, 4 to 4½ hours. Transfer pork to a platter and let rest until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Pull into large pieces, discarding the bone.

  3. Combine radishes and carrots in a heatproof bowl. Bring vinegar, 1 cup water, and remaining ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar and salt dissolve, about 4 minutes. Pour hot brine over radishes and carrots and set aside until cool, about 30 minutes. (Pickled vegetables can be made 2 days ahead; refrigerate in an airtight container.)

  4. Build lettuce wraps with pork, vegetables, and kimchi.

Yields: 12