Name: Umami Fusion Lettuce Wrap with Coca-Cola Glaze
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 4 large lettuce leaves (butter lettuce or romaine, washed and dried); 150 grams ham (diced into small cubes); 100 grams cheese (cheddar or mozzarella, finely shredded); 2 large eggs (beaten); 1 orange (zest and juice separated); 3 tablespoons mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons butter (divided: 1 tablespoon for cooking, 1 for emulsion); 200 milliliters Coca-Cola (divided: 150ml for glaze, 50ml for cooking); 1 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon black pepper; 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for heat); 1 teaspoon soy sauce (Asian influence); 0.5 teaspoon fish sauce (Vietnamese element); 1 teaspoon honey (for glaze sweetness)

Umami Fusion Lettuce Wrap with Coca-Cola Glaze

A bold multi-continental fusion dish featuring crispy lettuce cups filled with a savory ham and cheese mixture, topped with a sweet-spicy Coca-Cola reduction glaze inspired by Asian cooking techniques, finished with a French-style orange-butter emulsion and Mediterranean herbs. This innovative creation bridges 14 culinary traditions into one harmonious bite.

40 min

Medium

2 servings

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Taste Profile

Sweet6/10

Salty7/10

Sour4/10

Umami8/10

Spicy3/10

🥄 Texture

Crisp lettuce cups contrast with a warm, soft filling of scrambled eggs and melted cheese, while diced ham adds chewy, slightly caramelized bites. The Coca-Cola glaze is sticky and glossy, and the orange-mayonnaise emulsion gives a silky, creamy finish.

👃 Aroma

Bright citrus top-notes from fresh orange zest and juice combine with sweet caramel and cola notes from the reduced Coca-Cola glaze. Underneath there is a savory, buttery-meaty aroma from the ham, cheese, butter and subtle fermented notes from soy and fish sauce.

🍷 Pairs Well With

A crisp, dry sparkling wine (Prosecco or Cava) or a chilled light lager will cut the richness and complement the sweet-caramel glaze; for a nonalcoholic option, iced green tea with a lemon wedge works well.

🥗 Side Dishes

Quick pickled cucumber and carrot salad, steamed jasmine rice or coconut rice, and a simple edamame with sea salt or an Asian-style slaw (cabbage, carrot, rice vinegar) are good accompaniments.

Ingredients(14 items)

14 large lettuce leaves (butter lettuce or romaine, washed and dried)

2150 grams ham (diced into small cubes)

3100 grams cheese (cheddar or mozzarella, finely shredded)

42 large eggs (beaten)

51 orange (zest and juice separated)

63 tablespoons mayonnaise

72 tablespoons butter (divided: 1 tablespoon for cooking, 1 for emulsion)

8200 milliliters Coca-Cola (divided: 150ml for glaze, 50ml for cooking)

91 teaspoon salt

100.5 teaspoon black pepper

110.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for heat)

121 teaspoon soy sauce (Asian influence)

130.5 teaspoon fish sauce (Vietnamese element)

141 teaspoon honey (for glaze sweetness)

Instructions

Prepare the lettuce cups by gently separating 4 large lettuce leaves. Pat them dry with paper towels and arrange on a serving platter. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced ham and cook for 2-3 minutes until the edges begin to caramelize, stirring occasionally.

Push the ham to the side of the skillet and pour the beaten eggs into the empty space. Scramble the eggs for 2-3 minutes until fully cooked, then mix with the ham.

Add the shredded cheese to the ham and egg mixture, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts and coats everything. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the soy sauce and fish sauce for umami depth.

Transfer the ham-cheese-egg mixture to a bowl and let it cool slightly for 2 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine 150ml of Coca-Cola with 1 teaspoon of honey over medium heat. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces to a thick, glossy glaze (should coat the back of a spoon). This creates the sweet-spicy Asian-inspired reduction.

While the glaze reduces, prepare the orange-butter emulsion: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh orange juice, orange zest, mayonnaise, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until smooth and creamy. This creates the French-Mediterranean element.

Taste the Coca-Cola glaze and adjust sweetness if needed by adding a touch more honey, or acidity by adding a small splash of the reserved 50ml Coca-Cola if it's too thick.

Fill each lettuce cup with approximately 3-4 tablespoons of the ham-cheese-egg mixture, dividing evenly among the 4 leaves.

Drizzle each filled lettuce cup with 1 tablespoon of the orange-butter emulsion, spreading it gently across the filling.

Top each cup with approximately 1.5 tablespoons of the Coca-Cola glaze, allowing it to cascade slightly down the sides.

Garnish with additional orange zest if desired. Serve immediately while the filling is still warm and the lettuce is crisp, creating a beautiful contrast of temperatures and textures.