This fast dinner utilizing beef mince channels Thai chilli basil stir fry vibes (besides, no basil!) with poke bowl versatility (besides, no expensive uncooked fish!). The candy chilli drizzle sauce ties all of it collectively, and provides you the flex to make use of any uncooked or cooked veg facet. Jumble all of it up and dig in!
About these Thai Candy Chilli Beef Bowls
I want I may inform you at this time’s recipe is an genuine Thai homecooked meal, lovingly ready day-after-day by hundreds of households throughout Thailand…..
Nevertheless it’s not (at the very least, to not my data). It’s simply one thing I made up, fast to make, versatile and an incredible all-rounder that may please choosy younger eaters in addition to those that think about themselves connoisseurs of South East Asian meals. As a result of though it isn’t genuine, it’s made with staple Thai stir fry components (oyster sauce, fish sauce, garlic, sugar) so the flavour is fairly* legit.
It’s actually tasty. I hope you adore it!
* I say “fairly” legit as a result of I’ve dialled up the velocity issue through the use of candy chilli sauce as a substitute of recent chilli + garlic + sugar + thickener. It completely works!
Elements
Right here’s what you want to make this. NOTE: There’s a good few repeat components!
The sauces
We’re making two sauces at this time – one for cooking and one for drizzling. Widespread components, however they style completely different as a result of cooking the sauce adjustments the flavour – it intensifies and caramelises. Alternatively, the drizzle sauce is more energizing.
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Candy chilli sauce – Simply your common on a regular basis candy chilli sauce from common grocery shops. I exploit Trident which is a typical model right here in Australia. There isn’t any have to search out a legit Asian model (until you wish to!). Regardless of the phrase “chilli” within the identify, it’s not spicy, it’s simply candy, although there may be refined chilli flavour in it.
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Fish sauce – Pungent within the bottle however fantastic when cooked, can’t style fishiness in any respect! You simply find yourself with tasty savoury saltiness – extra fascinating than salt, soy and so forth. We additionally use it within the drizzle sauce however not very a lot. If uncooked fish sauce scares you, a) I assume you don’t like Vietnamese meals (as a result of it’s abundantly utilized in uncooked type in Vietnamese sauces!) b) simply use soy as a substitute.
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Darkish soy sauce – This stains the meat a beautiful wealthy color and provides tasty soy flavour in a method you don’t get with common or mild soy sauce. However, if you happen to don’t have darkish soy sauce, you should use both of those (although the meat received’t be as darkish). There shall be a contact much less flavour too however don’t be involved, the drizzle sauce will make up for it.
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Rice vinegar – To steadiness out the candy and savoury within the stir fry sauce. Substitute with cider vinegar.
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Lime juice – I selected to make use of this for the drizzle sauce moderately than vinegar as a result of it’s more energizing. However if you happen to don’t have lime or it’s extortionate (which it may be at occasions right here in Australia) and also you wish to reserve it to your G&T (I get it), substitute with rice vinegar. It’s not a giant deal, I promise. 🙂
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Garlic – For the drizzle sauce. (We sauté garlic for the meat).
PS With a good few frequent components, I believed I may make one double-duty sauce. I did strive, and it was okay, nevertheless it was higher making two separate ones with completely different ratios of every ingredient. So sorry, you want two separate bowls!
For the meat stir fry
All you want for the stir fry half is beef, garlic and onion. The cashews and coriander/cilantro are for sprinkling – and there’s loads of alternate options.
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Beef mince – Use any fats % you need. The fattier it’s, the stronger the meat flavour and the juicier the stir fry.
Different proteins – I haven’t tried however I’m assured this might be very tasty with hen, turkey and pork. Not satisfied lamb works – however I may simply be swayed.
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Garlic and onion – I problem you to discover a stir fry on my web site that doesn’t embrace these!
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Cashews – sprinkle of chopped toasted cashews is such a tasty completion! Elevates this from “yum” to “I would like seconds!”. Peanuts would work as properly, or almonds. For a no nut choice, I’d in all probability go for crispy fried shallots (purchase them).
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Coriander/cilantro – Beautiful recent contact. I exploit a good quantity as a result of I like the flavour of coriander, it’s a Thai meals important! Substitute with inexperienced onion.
Rice and vegetable/salad sides
There’s no uncooked fish in sight, however except for this it’s an identical idea to a poke bowl. It’s served over rice, it’s obtained a sauce, and it really works with uncooked or cooked greens. The candy chilli drizzle sauce primarily acts as a salad dressing which suggests you may actually use any vegetable you need.
It’s pictured all through this submit with cucumbers and crimson onion tossed with coriander (protecting with the Thai vibes!), however assume – blanched broccoli florets, shredded carrot or cabbage, sliced radish, blanched asparagus, finely sliced kale, cherry tomatoes, edamame or peas.
As for the rice – I’ve used jasmine (on-theme for the Thai flavours) although any plain rice or noodles will work. Fake rice, likecauliflower rice, quinoa (prepare dinner instructions right here) or these new fangled low-cal-faux rice choices bought at grocery shops as of late, can be used.
Find out how to make it
Don’t skip toasting the cashews. It actually goes an extended option to improve the nut flavour!
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Drizzle sauce – Combine the components in a small bowl.
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Stir fry sauce – And blend these components in a separate bowl.
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Toast cashews – Toss the cashews in a dry pan for a couple of minutes till you may scent them and there’s little golden spots on the cashews.
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Chop – Allow them to cool then roughly chop them so you’ve some bigger items and a few “mud”.
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Sauté the onion and garlic for a minute till the onion is sort of translucent. (We’re on excessive warmth now, velocity is our buddy). The onion will prepare dinner by way of extra with the meat.
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Beef – Add the meat and prepare dinner it, breaking it up as you go, till you may not see crimson. Then add the sauce and preserve cooking till the sauce principally reduces, the meat is scorching and it will get good color on it. Don’t skimp on this step because the caramelisation of the sauce on the meat is the place the flavour is! It should take about 2 – 3 minutes on a powerful range, or 3 – 4 minutes on a weaker range.
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Juicy and engaging! Right here’s what it seems to be like. The meat is a beautiful wealthy brown color nevertheless it’s nonetheless “juicy” due to the candy chilli sauce.
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Assemble bowls – Spoon the meat over steaming rice. Pile greens of selection on the facet (uncooked or cooked, extra on this above), douse with the Drizzle sauce, sprinkle with coriander and cashews. Then it’s supper time!
Consuming etiquette
And eventually, a vital matter – the consuming etiquette. When it’s first positioned in entrance of you, take a second to admire it. So fairly and vibrant!
Then dive in and blend all of it up. Combine with vigour! If you’re not flicking cashew bits and rice on the desk, are you actually residing? Embrace the chaos, as a result of the higher it’s jumbled, the extra satisfying each single chunk shall be.
Carry on the scrumptious mess!! – Nagi x
Thai candy chilli beef bowls FAQ
Not an excessive amount of really! Made it as soon as, discovered it a bit bland and never sufficient flavour as soon as jumbled by way of the rice. So I added the drizzle sauce and that labored a deal with. It’s a reasonably simple recipe in comparison with some!
This was one of many quickest recipes I’ve created in 2024! As famous above, I made it as soon as, thought it was tasty and I used to be proud of it. I actually preferred the flexibility ie how one can add any greens, uncooked or recent, to finish the meal.
So then I made it once more to {photograph} it, and once more to movie it. So a grand complete of three occasions. That’s the minimal for any recipe I share on my web site. It’s additionally a really low danger recipe so I didn’t really feel the necessity to preserve making it to enhance or remedy “drawback areas”.
Sure you may! There’s sufficient sauce add a carrot and zucchini, grated and cooked up with the meat.
I haven’t tried however assured it’s nice with hen, turkey and pork. Undecided about lamb, it’s not a quite common protein utilized in Thai delicacies. I may very well be incorrect – drop a be aware if you happen to do this with lamb!
The recipe will certainly work however I’m not precisely positive concerning the amount. The factor is, sliced meats have quite a bit much less floor space than a gazillion little bits of crumbled mince meat so often, you want much less sauce. However generally, you want extra, to get a pleasant glaze on the floor!
I absolutely intend to do a sliced hen model of this recipe early in 2025, so be affected person! 🙂
You positive can! However I’m not precisely positive how a lot tofu is the correct amount for the sauce. You may wing it – simply add the sauce little by little, and be ready to combine up extra if wanted. Keep in mind the drizzle sauce provides further flavour too.
PS Use agency tofu as it should crumble up like mince. When performed proper, it’s very tasty! Proof right here.
I might not hesitate to serve this over noodles, wrapped in rice paper (rice paper rolls), stuffed into lettuce wraps, roti (assume – Asian burritos!) and even in gentle white rolls or steamed Asian buns (bao buns!).
I’d even make banh-mi kind rolls – stuff the meat into crusty white rolls with shredded or finely sliced greens, Asian pickles, and use the drizzle sauce because the Banh Mi sauce. YES! (Recommend utilizing the Hen Banh Mi for inspiration).
Watch tips on how to make it
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Thai Candy Chilli Beef Bowls
Prep: 13 minutes
Cook dinner: 7 minutes
Whole: 20 minutes
Essential
Western
Servings4
Faucet or hover to scale
Elements
Candy chilli stir fry sauce:
Candy chilli drizzle sauce:
Forestall display from sleeping
Directions
Abbreviated recipe
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Combine every sauce. Toast cashews, sauté onion + garlic 1 min, then prepare dinner beef. Add sauce, prepare dinner till decreased/caramelised, serve over rice with veg on facet. Spoon over drizzle sauce, high with cashews and coriander.
Full recipe:
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Drizzle sauce – Combine the components in a bowl, put aside.
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Stir fry sauce – Combine the components in a separate bowl, put aside.
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Toast cashews – Warmth a big non-stick pan over medium excessive warmth. Add the cashews and toast for two minutes. Switch to a slicing board then roughly chop as soon as cool.
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Cook dinner beef – Warmth the oil in the identical pan over excessive warmth. Add the garlic and onion, prepare dinner for 1 minute. Add the meat and prepare dinner, breaking it up as you go, till you not see uncooked meat.
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Sauce it! Add the cooking sauce and prepare dinner properly, stirring, till it principally reduces down so the sauce caramelises on the meat, about 3 – 4 minutes. (Do not shortcut this step, it is the place the flavour is!)
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Serve the meat over rice with a facet of veg. Douse every little thing with the sauce, high with cashews and coriander (recent chilli would not go astray both). To eat, jumble every little thing up then dig in!
Recipe Notes:
2. Fish sauce – It’s pungent within the bottle, nevertheless it cooks out so don’t be scared! It’s the key ingredient that provides extra flavour than different salty issues like salt, soy and so forth. In case you actually need to sub, use all-purpose soy or mild soy (NOT darkish soy, too intense).
3. Oyster sauce – Equally pungent (but in addition candy), however is a flavour shortcut. Don’t skip it. Sub vegetarian oyster sauce (sure, such a factor exists!).
4. Darkish soy sauce provides the meat an attractive deep brown color in addition to including tasty soy flavour. Substitute with all objective or mild soy sauce, although the meat received’t be as darkish. Whereas the flavour can even be rather less, it’s okay right here as a result of the drizzle sauce will reserve it!
5. Veg – The drizzle sauce will make any veg tasty, whether or not uncooked (like cucumber pictured, shredded cabbage, carrot, leafy greens, radish) or cooked (simply plain steamed or blanched, like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, peas). Assume: poke bowl scenario!
6. Leftover beef will preserve for 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 3 months within the freezer. Nice meal prep if you happen to use steamed veg as a result of every little thing within the may be reheated (although I wouldn’t preserve cooked rice longer than 3 days in fridge). Finest to maintain the drizzle sauce separate, if you happen to can.
Vitamin per serving, assuming lean beef is used, 1 cup cooked rice, all of the drizzle sauce and pictured cucumber facet. 206 energy is from the rice, so change it out with decrease cal / decrease carb alternate options if you wish to scale back the energy (eg cauliflower rice).
Vitamin Data:
Energy: 585cal (29%)Carbohydrates: 62g (21%)Protein: 33g (66%)Fats: 22g (34%)Saturated Fats: 7g (44%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 81mg (27%)Sodium: 1617mg (70%)Potassium: 657mg (19%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 13g (14%)Vitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 6mg (7%)Calcium: 58mg (6%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
Extra Asian meals made utilizing beef mince
It doesn’t need to be Spag Bol each single night time!
Lifetime of Dozer
I ought to retitle this part “greed of Dozer” as a result of I needed to take him into the emergency vet hospital final night time after I caught him chowing down fertiliser (which may be poisonous to canine). 🙄 Fortunately, it wasn’t chemical fertiliser (which may be actually poisonous), “simply” hen poop.
As punishment for his greed, he’s reverting to a bland boiled-veg-chicken food regimen for the subsequent short time, as a precaution. And I’ve publicly shamed him on this residence video:
And additional shaming within the household WhatsApp thread:
Will report again in just a few days however no alarming indicators at this stage. Thanks once more SASH (Dr Erin!), for treating him!