Ingredients
Beef and Aromatics
- 1 lb ground beef (85-90% lean; if using 85%, soak up grease with paper towel)
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp minced ginger (from a jar, or 1 inch fresh ginger, grated)
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup snow peas
- 3 green onions, sliced
Sauce
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos (can substitute low sodium soy sauce)
- 1½ tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- Juice from ½ lime (about 2 tsp)
- ½-1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to heat preference)
Finishing and Serving
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 4–5 minutes, breaking it apart until browned. If using fattier beef, soak up excess grease with a paper towel to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Sauté garlic and ginger: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in minced garlic and ginger, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add vegetables: Add thinly sliced red bell pepper, snow peas, and sliced green onions to the skillet. Cook for 4–5 minutes until they are tender-crisp, preserving their vibrant color and slight crunch.
- Mix the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together coconut aminos, maple syrup, rice vinegar, lime juice, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Combine sauce and cook: Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef and vegetables. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce slightly thickens and becomes glossy, coating the ingredients evenly.
- Finish with basil and serve: Turn off the heat and stir in fresh Thai basil leaves, allowing them to wilt gently in the residual heat. Serve the basil beef immediately over cooked jasmine rice with an additional lime wedge on the side for extra zest.
Notes
- For a lower sodium option, use low sodium soy sauce instead of coconut aminos.
- To make the dish spicier, increase the red pepper flakes or add fresh sliced chilies.
- If you don’t have Thai basil, substitute with sweet basil but the flavor will be slightly different.
- Use lean beef (90% or higher) to reduce grease; blot excess fat with paper towels if needed.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of maple syrup or honey.
- Serve with jasmine rice for a traditional accompaniment, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Low Fat
