First prepare your key ingredients. Chop the chillies, including the one for the dressing; also chop the garlic. See our garlic & chilli Tip. Peel and grate the ginger. See our ginger Tip. Zest and juice the lime(s), then cut the zest smaller. See our citrus Tip. Cut the spring onions into small rounds. Add a little oil to a frying pan and fry both meats together over a high heat. Keep stirring until the meat is fully brown and looks dry and crumbly, at least 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the mince in a sieve, and set to one side.
Next prepare the dressing. Chop the coriander. See our herb Tip. Add the brown sugar, soy sauce and one generous tablespoon of the lime juice to a clean jam jar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Set the remaining lime juice aside. Add the sesame oil, fish sauce and one tablespoon of the olive oil to the jar and shake vigorously until emulsified. Add two more good tablespoons of the oil and shake again. See our dressing Tip. Stir in the coriander and about a teaspoon of the chopped chillies, setting the rest aside. Taste and adjust with any of the flavourings until liked. Now fry the noodles. Add the groundnut oil to a deep frying pan or wok, and heat to a very high temperature. Test the oil with a piece of noodle - if the oil is hot enough, it will immediately puff up. If it doesn't, remove the test noodle, heat the oil for longer and test again until the test noodle puffs. Fry the noodles in batches, turning with tongs, until crisp and puffed, a few seconds, and remove to a plate covered with kitchen towel once done, Reserve.
Cut the bottom of the stem from the lettuce, and separate into leaves. Reserve in a serving bowl.
Place a frying pan over a medium heat and add the chillies, garlic and ginger until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and a pinch of salt, then raise the heat slightly and add the cooked mince. Stir and heat through, then add the fish sauce, a generous splash of lime juice and the zest, and stir. Taste, and adjust seasonings. Add the spring onions and cook for a minute or so. You are ready to serve.
To serve, place a lettuce leaf on your plate and top with a little of the mince mixture. Spoon over a little dressing, then top with some crispy noodles. Roll up the lettuce wrap and enjoy!
