Why this fits a family on a budget
Ground pork is one of the most affordable proteins available, and the simple pantry-based peanut sauce adds big flavor without extra cost, keeping this meal comfortably under $3 per serving. The air fryer handles the pork in under 15 minutes with almost no hands-on effort, perfect for a busy weeknight.
• 1 lbs ground pork
• 1 whole butter lettuce heads
• 1 cups shredded carrots
• 4 stalks green onions
• 3 cloves garlic cloves
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 3 tbsp natural peanut butter
• 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari)
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sriracha sauce
• 1 whole lime
• 1 cups jasmine rice
1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the jasmine rice: combine 1 cup rice with 1.5 cups water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes. Keep covered off heat until serving.
2. Mince the 3 garlic cloves and grate or finely mince 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger. Slice the green onions, keeping the white and green parts separate. Separate the butter lettuce into individual cup-shaped leaves and rinse them. Set aside on a plate.
3. Make the peanut sauce: in a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, tamari, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and sriracha until smooth. Squeeze in the juice of half the lime. If the sauce seems too thick, add 1 tablespoon of warm water and whisk again. Set aside.
4. Place the ground pork in the air fryer basket. Break it apart into rough crumbles with a spatula. Cook at 375°F for 8 minutes.
5. Open the air fryer and stir the pork, breaking up any large clumps. Add the minced garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the green onions on top of the pork. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until the pork is fully cooked through with no pink remaining and the edges look slightly crispy.
6. Transfer the cooked pork mixture to a large bowl. Pour about two-thirds of the peanut sauce over the hot pork and toss to coat evenly. Taste and add more sauce or a squeeze of lime juice as needed.
7. To assemble the lettuce cups, lay out the lettuce leaves on a flat surface or large plate. Spoon a small amount of jasmine rice into each lettuce cup as a base, then top with a generous spoonful of the peanut pork mixture.
8. Top each cup with a pinch of shredded carrots and the sliced green parts of the green onions. Drizzle any remaining peanut sauce over the top. Serve immediately while the pork is still warm.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.