San choy bau (Matt Sinclair)
San choy bau is a vibrant Asian main course of seasoned minced pork, shiitake mushrooms, spring onions and fresh ginger, served in crisp lettuce cups. The Thermomix TM7 chops aromatics, grinds the pork and heats the filling with precision, so every cup bursts with savoury, aromatic flavour in minutes.
About this recipe
San choy bau with the Thermomix TM7 brings Matt Sinclair's beloved Asian lettuce cups straight to your kitchen as a quick weeknight dinner or impressive starter. Searching for san choy bau recipes that deliver restaurant-quality flavour with minimal effort? This all-in-one kitchen machine grinds pork loin steaks into a coarse, juicy mince, chops garlic and fresh ginger to an even fineness and heats the fragrant filling with shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce and oyster sauce so nothing sticks or burns. The beauty lies in the contrast: warm, savoury, chilli-kissed pork against cool, crisp lettuce cups, scattered with spring onions. Perfect for casual gatherings where guests build their own cups, this Thermomix TM7 recipe also fits effortlessly into a weekly menu or meal prep session, since the filling reheats beautifully the next day.
Preparation tips
- Chill the lettuce leaves in ice water before serving so they stay refreshingly crisp; pat them completely dry afterwards, otherwise the pork filling slides straight off the cup.
- Taste the pork filling before spooning it into the lettuce cups and adjust with a splash of soy sauce or extra chilli flakes; the shiitake mushrooms absorb a lot of seasoning during cooking.
- For a kid-friendly version, omit the dried chilli flakes and serve the filling with steamed rice alongside the lettuce cups, letting children build their own bowls with spring onions on the side.
Recipe variations
- Make a vegetarian san choy bau by replacing the pork loin steaks with finely chopped king oyster mushrooms and firm tofu; add extra oyster-style mushroom sauce and the same ginger, garlic and spring onion base for a deeply savoury plant-based filling.
- For a festive seafood variation, swap the pork for prawns pulsed briefly in the Thermomix TM7 and add a squeeze of lime with fresh coriander, turning the lettuce cups into an elegant party starter with a brighter, zesty profile.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Precision grinding - The Thermomix grinds pork loin steaks into coarse, juicy mince with an even texture in seconds. [Multi-Function]
- Uniform chopping - The TM7 chops garlic cloves and fresh ginger to a consistent fineness, releasing maximum aroma into the filling. [Time Saving]. [Time Savings]
- Controlled heating - The Thermomix heats the shiitake mushroom filling evenly so the oyster sauce caramelises without burning. [Temperature Control]
- Hands-free cooking - The TM7 stirs the pork and spring onion mixture automatically while you rinse and arrange the lettuce cups. [Hands-Free]
- One-bowl prep - The Thermomix weighs, chops and cooks the soy-glazed filling in a single mixing bowl, halving the washing-up. [Easy Cleaning]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- pork loin steaks
- sesame oil
- peanut oil
- garlic cloves
- piece fresh ginger
- dried chilli flakes
- spring onions/shallots
- fresh shiitake mushrooms
- soy sauce
- oyster sauce