Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang
Grilled pork to wrap in lettuce with a savoury dip.
Ingredients
- 600 g Pork belly
- 2 tbsp Doenjang
- 1 tbsp Gochujang
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 head Romaine lettuce
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Sear the pork belly slices in a hot pan until crisp and cooked through, then season with salt, about 10 minutes.
- Mix the doenjang, gochujang, minced garlic, and sesame oil into a ssamjang dip.
- Serve the pork with lettuce, scallions, and the ssamjang to wrap.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang
These Korean lettuce wraps center on ssam, the beloved practice of wrapping grilled meat and condiments in a fresh leaf to eat by hand. Here seared pork belly is the filling, and ssamjang — a thick, savory dip made by blending doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and gochujang with garlic and sesame oil — is the flavor anchor. The dish belongs to the interactive, table-side style of Korean eating, where everyone builds their own bites from a shared spread rather than being served a finished plate.
Pork belly is the ideal cut for this because its fat renders as it sears, leaving the slices crisp on the outside and rich within — a foil for the cool crunch of romaine and scallion and the deep, funky-spicy hit of the ssamjang. That dip is the whole point: salty and fermented from the doenjang, with a chili edge from the gochujang, it seasons each wrap in one bite. Low in carbs and made for grazing, this is social food, well suited to a casual dinner where the cooking and the eating happen together. Set out the pork, lettuce, and dip and let people assemble as they go.
Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang?
A serving has about 867 calories — 17.6g protein, 10.4g carbs, 84g fat, 3.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Doenjang, Gochujang. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
How long does Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 7 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out toasted sesame oil, scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Lettuce Wraps with Ssamjang make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.