Description
This Korean Beef Bowl is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender ground beef sautéed with garlic and simmered in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. Perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner, it combines classic Korean flavors like soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger, topped with fresh green onions and sesame seeds for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, crushed red-pepper flakes, and ground ginger until well combined to create a balanced sauce with sweet, salty, and spicy notes.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it to maintain the aromatic flavor.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and fully cooked through, about 3-5 minutes. Drain excess fat if there is too much to avoid greasiness.
- Combine Sauce and Beef: Stir in the prepared sauce and sliced green onions into the cooked beef. Reduce heat slightly and let it simmer for about 2 minutes until heated through and the flavors meld together.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the Korean beef hot, garnished with sesame seeds for a subtle nutty crunch. Ideal to serve over steamed rice or with vegetables.
Notes
- Adjust the crushed red-pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- Using reduced sodium soy sauce helps control the overall saltiness, but you can adjust to taste.
- Serve with steamed jasmine or short-grain rice for an authentic meal.
- Adding vegetables like steamed broccoli or stir-fried bok choy makes this dish more nutritious.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for a leaner alternative.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
