Mini Gem San Choy Bau Chicken Cups
Savoury-sweet chicken and water chestnuts piled into crisp Aeroveg Mini Gem cups — a 20-minute san choy bau you eat with your hands.
San choy bau lives or dies by its lettuce, and Aeroveg Mini Gem was practically built for it. Each leaf is a small, sturdy cup with a sweet crunch that holds up to a hot, glossy filling without going limp — no tearing, no soggy edges, just a clean snap with every bite.
Method
- Prep the cups. Wash and pat the Aeroveg Mini Gem leaves dry, then chill them in the fridge — cold leaves stay crisper against the warm filling.
- Mix the sauce. Stir all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Cook the aromatics. Heat the oil in a wok over medium-high heat and fry the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Brown the chicken. Add the minced chicken and stir-fry for 4–5 minutes, breaking it up, until cooked through and lightly golden.
- Add crunch and sauce. Toss in the water chestnuts, pour in the sauce, and cook for 1–2 minutes until glossy and almost dry.
- Assemble. Spoon the hot filling into the chilled Mini Gem cups just before eating.
- Finish. Top with spring onion, sesame seeds, and crispy shallots. Serve immediately.
Keep Aeroveg Mini Gem leaves whole and chilled until the moment you fill them — the contrast between icy-crisp lettuce and hot filling is the entire point of san choy bau.