Gluten-Free Fluke Lettuce Wraps with Coconut Finishing Sauce (Plus Rice)

Davis Whitehead

These bright, crunchy lettuce wraps keep the fluke clean and delicate: quick-seared fish, lots of herbs, radish snap, and a light coconut finishing sauce that cools the heat from Korean peppers. Serve everything family-style so gluten-free folks can build safely, while others can add plum sauce at the table if desired. A pot of rice makes the wraps more filling and great for a mixed crowd.

  • gluten-free
  • seafood
  • weeknight
  • lettuce wraps
35 min total · 20 min prep · 15 min cook
Serves 6
380 kcal · 27g protein · 40g carbs · 12g fat total
Rice cooker (or pot) · Large skillet · Mixing bowl · Sharp knife

Ingredients

  • Rice (optional but recommended)
  • Fluke
  • Coconut finishing sauce
  • Wrap build

Instructions

Cook the rice (optional but recommended)

1

Rinse 1 1/2 cups (300 g) rice until the water runs mostly clear. Cook with 1 3/4 cups (420 g) water and 1/2 tsp (3 g) fancy salt in your rice cooker (or covered pot) until tender and the grains are separate and steamy.

2

Fluff and keep warm. The rice should smell toasty-sweet and feel springy, not wet or gluey.

Make the coconut finishing sauce

1

In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup (80 g) coconut milk with 3 Tbsp (45 g) crème fraîche or sour cream until smooth.

2

If using, whisk in 1–2 tsp (5–10 g) plum sauce (only if gluten-free) and/or 1–2 tsp (5–10 g) tamari. Stir in 1 sliced Korean pepper (10–20 g).

3

Season with a pinch of fancy salt. You’re looking for a sauce that’s lightly creamy and spoonable, not thick—add a teaspoon of water if it feels too heavy.

Prep the crunchy/herby filling

1

Thin-slice 6–8 radishes (120–160 g) and (optional) 1/2 cup (50 g) celery.

2

Chop herbs: 1/2 cup (10 g) cilantro, 1/4 cup (6 g) mint, 1/4 cup (8 g) chives.

3

If using, thin-slice 2 cups (60 g) greens. Toss radish/celery/greens/herbs together; keep chilled and crisp.

Sear the fluke

1

Pat 1 1/2 lb (680 g) fluke very dry. Season both sides with 1 tsp (5 g) fancy salt and (optional) 1/2 tsp (1 g) black pepper.

2

Heat a skillet over medium-high until you can feel strong heat hovering your hand over it; add 1 Tbsp (15 g) oil.

3

Lay in the fluke and sear gently (work in batches if needed). Cook until the fish turns opaque almost all the way through and flakes with light pressure; the surface should be lightly golden and smell sweet and ocean-clean, not fishy. (Thin fillets can be done in 1–2 minutes per side; go by opacity.)

4

Transfer to a plate and break into bite-size flakes.

Build the wraps

1

Set out lettuce leaves. Add a small spoon of rice (about 1–2 Tbsp / 15–30 g), a few flakes of fluke (about 2 oz / 55 g), and a pinch of the radish-herb mix (about 1/4 cup / 15–25 g).

2

Spoon on 1–2 tsp (5–10 g) coconut finishing sauce per wrap.

3

Eat right away while the lettuce is crisp and the fish is warm.

Tip: For mixed gluten needs, keep the platter gluten-free and pass any non-GF sauces (like regular plum sauce) in a separate bowl with its own spoon.

Notes

Gluten-free note: many plum sauces contain gluten—only use one labeled gluten-free. For a mixed crowd, serve plum sauce on the side with a separate spoon to avoid cross-contact. No lemon needed: the herbs and radish provide the brightness. If you want more heat, add more sliced Korean pepper to the sauce or scatter on top. Storage: keep components separate; fish and rice reheat gently, salad stays crisp 1 day.

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