This fast dinner utilizing beef mince channels Thai chilli basil stir fry vibes (besides, no basil!) with poke bowl versatility (besides, no dear uncooked fish!). The candy chilli drizzle sauce ties all of it collectively, and offers 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 might inform you immediately’s recipe is an genuine Thai homecooked meal, lovingly ready each day by 1000’s of households throughout Thailand…..
But it surely’s not (a minimum of, to not my data). It’s simply one thing I made up, fast to make, versatile and an awesome all-rounder that can 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 like 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 contemporary chilli + garlic + sugar + thickener. It completely works!
Elements
Right here’s what you’ll want to make this. NOTE: There’s a good few repeat components!
The sauces
We’re making two sauces immediately – one for cooking and one for drizzling. Frequent components, however they style completely different as a result of cooking the sauce adjustments the flavour – it intensifies and caramelises. However, the drizzle sauce is brisker.
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Candy chilli sauce – Simply your common on a regular basis candy chilli sauce from common grocery shops. I take advantage of Trident which is a standard model right here in Australia. There isn’t a have to search out a legit Asian model (except you wish to!). Regardless of the phrase “chilli” within the title, it’s not spicy, it’s simply candy, although there may be delicate chilli flavour in it.
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Fish sauce – Smelly 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 many others. 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 kind in Vietnamese sauces!) b) simply use soy as a substitute.
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Darkish soy sauce – This stains the meat a stunning wealthy color and provides tasty soy flavour in a manner you don’t get with common or gentle soy sauce. However, in the event you don’t have darkish soy sauce, you should use both of those (although the meat gained’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 relatively than vinegar as a result of it’s brisker. However in the event you don’t have lime or it’s extortionate (which it may be at occasions right here in Australia) and also you wish to put it aside in 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 widespread components, I assumed I might make one double-duty sauce. I did attempt, and it was okay, however 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 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 is able to be very tasty with rooster, turkey and pork. Not satisfied lamb works – however I might 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 embody these!
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Cashews – sprinkle of chopped toasted cashews is such a tasty of completion! Elevates this from “yum” to “I want seconds!”. Peanuts would work as properly, or almonds. For a no nut possibility, I’d most likely go for crispy fried shallots (purchase them).
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Coriander/cilantro – Beautiful contemporary contact. I take advantage of 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 other than this it’s the same idea to a poke bowl. It’s served over rice, it’s bought 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 possibly can actually use any vegetable you need.
It’s pictured all through this publish with cucumbers and purple onion tossed with coriander (maintaining 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 offered at grocery shops as of late, will also be used.
The right way to make it
Don’t skip toasting the cashews. It actually goes a protracted 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 possibly can 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 may have some bigger items and a few “mud”.
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Sauté the onion and garlic for a minute till the onion is nearly translucent. (We’re on excessive warmth now, velocity is our pal). The onion will prepare dinner via extra with the meat.
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Beef – Add the meat and prepare dinner it, breaking it up as you go, till you possibly can now not see purple. Then add the sauce and preserve cooking till the sauce largely 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 appears like. The meat is a stunning wealthy brown color however it’s nonetheless “juicy” because of the candy chilli sauce.
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Assemble bowls – Spoon the meat over steaming rice. Pile greens of alternative on the facet (uncooked or cooked, extra on this above), douse with the Drizzle sauce, sprinkle with coriander and cashews. Then it’s time for supper!
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 gratifying each single chunk shall be.
Deliver on the scrumptious mess!! – Nagi x
Thai candy chilli beef bowls FAQ
Not an excessive amount of truly! Made it as soon as, discovered it a bit bland and never sufficient flavour as soon as jumbled via 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 pleased with it. I actually preferred the flexibility ie how one can add any greens, uncooked or contemporary, 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 threat recipe so I didn’t really feel the necessity to preserve making it to enhance or clear up “drawback areas”.
Sure you possibly can! There may be sufficient sauce add a carrot and zucchini, grated and cooked up with the meat.
I haven’t tried however assured it’s nice with rooster, turkey and pork. Undecided about lamb, it’s not a quite common protein utilized in Thai delicacies. I might be flawed – drop a observe in the event you do that with lamb!
The recipe will certainly work however I’m not precisely positive in regards to the amount. The factor is, sliced meats have so much much less floor space than a gazillion little bits of crumbled mince meat so normally, you want much less sauce. However typically, you want extra, to get a pleasant glaze on the floor!
I totally intend to do a sliced rooster 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 quantity for the sauce. You would wing it – simply add the sauce little by little, and be ready to combine up extra if wanted. Bear in mind the drizzle sauce provides additional flavour too.
PS Use agency tofu as it should crumble up like mince. When finished 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 smooth white rolls or steamed Asian buns (bao buns!).
I’d even make banh-mi sort 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! (Counsel 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
Prepare 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 lowered/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 chopping board then roughly chop as soon as cool.
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Prepare 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 now not see uncooked meat.
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Sauce it! Add the cooking sauce and prepare dinner properly, stirring, till it largely 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 all the things with the sauce, high with cashews and coriander (contemporary chilli would not go astray both). To eat, jumble all the things up then dig in!
Recipe Notes:
2. Fish sauce – It’s pungent within the bottle, however 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 many others. Should you actually must sub, use all-purpose soy or gentle 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 offers the meat an attractive deep brown color in addition to including tasty soy flavour. Substitute with all function or gentle soy sauce, although the meat gained’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 put it aside!
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). Suppose: poke bowl state of affairs!
6. Leftover beef will preserve for 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 3 months within the freezer. Nice meal prep in the event you use steamed veg as a result of all the things 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, in the event you 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 swap it out with decrease cal / decrease carb options if you wish to scale back the energy (eg cauliflower rice).
Vitamin Info:
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 must be Spag Bol each single evening!
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 evening after I caught him chowing down fertiliser (which may be poisonous to canines). 🙄 Fortunately, it wasn’t chemical fertiliser (which may be actually poisonous), “simply” rooster poop.
As punishment for his greed, he’s reverting to a bland boiled-veg-chicken eating regimen for the subsequent short time, as a precaution. And I’ve publicly shamed him on this house video:
And additional shaming within the household WhatsApp thread:
Will report again in a couple of days however no alarming indicators at this stage. Thanks once more SASH (Dr Erin!), for treating him!