Plant-based mince and rice lettuce cups recipe

Name: Plant-based mince and rice lettuce cups
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1½ tbsp vegetable oil; 380g pack frozen Plant Chef no-beef meatballs; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 red chilli, finely diced; 3 spring onions, finely sliced; 250g pack microwave basmati rice; 2½ tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce; 2 Little Gems, separated into leaves (about 20 leaves in total); 10g fresh coriander, chopped; ½ lime, cut into wedges

Created by The Tesco Recipes team

Fresh, light and brimming with zingy flavours, these plant-based mince, rice and lettuce cups make a lovely summery meal. Featuring frozen vegan meatballs, this dish is super-easy and comes together in just 20 minutes. Being a source of iron and providing one of your 5-a-day, this recipe is definitely worth a go!

See method

Serves 4
Takes 20 mins
275 calories / serving

Shop your ingredients

Tesco Pure Vegetable Oil 1L
Aldi Price Match
1½ tbsp vegetable oil
£1.45
£1.45/litre
Tesco Plant Chef No-Beef Meatballs 380g
Aldi Price Match
380g pack frozen Plant Chef no-beef meatballs
£1.32
£3.47/kg
Tesco Garlic 4 Pack
Aldi Price Match
2 garlic cloves, crushed
£0.87
£0.22/each
Tesco Red Chillies 60G
Aldi Price Match
1 red chilli, finely diced
£0.51
£8.50/kg
Tesco Bunched Spring Onions 100G
49p Clubcard Price
(£4.90/kg)
Offer valid for delivery from 08/09/2026 until 05/10/2026
3 spring onions, finely sliced
£0.69
£6.90/kg
Grower Harvest Long Grain Rice 1Kg
Aldi Price Match
250g pack microwave basmati rice
£0.52
£0.52/kg
Tesco Reduced Salt Soy Sauce 150Ml
2½ tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce
£0.55
£3.67/litre
Tesco Little Gem Lettuce Twin Pack
Aldi Price Match
2 Little Gems, separated into leaves (about 20 leaves in total)
£0.77
£0.38/each
Tesco Fresh Cut Coriander 30G
Aldi Price Match
10g fresh coriander, chopped
£0.50
£16.67/kg
Tesco Limes Each
Aldi Price Match
½ lime, cut into wedges
£0.23
£0.23/each

Method

Heat the oil in a nonstick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and fry for 5-6 mins until golden and mostly thawed. Use a wooden spoon to break up into small pieces, then continue to fry for a further 5-6 mins until golden and crispy.
Reduce the heat to medium, then add the garlic, most of the chilli and the spring onions and cook, stirring regularly for 2 mins, until softened and aromatic.
Meanwhile, microwave the rice to pack instructions. Add the soy sauce to the mince with 4 tbsp water and stir well. Cook for 2 mins until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Stir in the rice to combine.
Divide the lettuce leaves among plates, then spoon the mince mixture between them. Scatter over the coriander and reserved chilli and serve with lime wedges on the side.