"Asian" Roll-Ups

This is a very versatile recipe. I have made these "Asian" roll-ups wrapped in rice papers and in flour tortillas.  Both are very delicious and I recommend them both; the rice paper lends an authentic twist and the tortillas get awesomely crunchy in the oven!  You choose what you like or have on hand.  

If you use the flour tortillas you can make these ahead of time. Just assemble them, place them in the prepared dish, cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

My husband loves these and so do the kids; the veggies end up tasting like the meat and seasonings, so I didn't have problems getting the kids to eat the veggies in them.  The kids liked them with ketchup, who'd of thought... ketchup!

Ingredients:
-1 lb. ground beef or turkey
-about 1/4 cup chopped onion
-1 cup shredded carrots
-1 red or green bell pepper {you could also use a jar of roasted red peppers}, cut into julienne strips
-3 cloves garlic, minced
-2 tbsp soy sauce (more if you really like soy sauce)
-1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
-1 tsp toasted sesame oil
-1 tsp lime or lemon juice
-1/4 tsp ground ginger (fresh or dried)
-1/8 tsp ground black pepper
-fresh mint leaves roughly chopped (optional)
-1 package rice papers or flour tortillas

Process:
1. In skillet cook ground meat until browned.
2. Drain meat in colander and rise with hot water to remove access grease.
3. Heat same skillet over medium heat, add drained meat, onions, garlic, pepper and carrots until veggies start to become transparent.

This time I used a jar of roasted red peppers,
so I added them after everything else had softened.

4. Reduce heat to low, add soy sauce, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, lime juice, ginger and black pepper.
5. Cook until fragrant and heated through.

If using rice papers:
1. Soak papers according to directions on package.  
2. Lay out prepared rice paper flat on work surface, top center with a few pieces of mint leaf (if using).
3. Top with a hardy spoonful of meat mixture.
4. Roll rice paper, folding in the side and then rolling to encase the filling.
5. Place in warmed serving dish.
6. Repeat with others, serve immediately.

"Asian" Roll-Ups in rice papers
all ready to eat!

If using flour tortillas:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.

2. Lay out tortilla, place a few mint leaves on center of tortilla (if using).

3. Place a hardy spoonful of meat mixture in the center.

4. Fold in the sides and roll the tortilla to encase mixture (mixture will be watery, but that is good).

5. Place in the prepared baking dish.

6. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.  If you have leftover "juices" in the pan pour them into the baking dish along the side of the tortillas.

7. Place in preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes or until the tortillas are nice and golden.

My flour "Asian" Roll-Ups
ready to go in the oven.