Description
This Asian-Style Ground Beef Spaghetti is a flavorful fusion dish combining tender spaghetti with a savory, slightly spicy ground beef mixture infused with garlic, ginger, and soy-based sauce. Garnished with fresh green onions and cilantro, it’s a quick and satisfying weeknight meal that brings an exciting twist to classic spaghetti.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- Salt for pasta water
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chili paste or sambal oelek
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon oil for cooking
Finishing Touches
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 4 green onions, sliced
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the spaghetti in salted water until al dente, typically about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta and setting it aside.
- Brown the ground beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is fully cooked and slightly crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger into the browned beef. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Create the sauce: Pour in soy sauce, chili paste or sambal oelek, rice vinegar, and brown sugar. Mix well to coat the beef evenly. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if the mixture feels too thick to help loosen the sauce.
- Combine pasta and beef: Toss the cooked spaghetti into the skillet with the beef sauce. Stir to combine thoroughly; add more reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Finish and garnish: Drizzle the sesame oil over the pasta and mix gently. Top the dish with sliced green onions and fresh cilantro. Serve hot, optionally adding lime wedges or extra chili flakes for additional flavor.
Notes
- Adjust chili paste quantity based on your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water to help bind the sauce to the noodles.
- Use fresh ginger for optimal flavor intensity.
- Can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Optional garnishes like lime wedges or extra chili flakes provide additional layers of flavor.
