Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Print View)
Savory-sweet Korean beef with steamed rice, fresh vegetables, and sesame. A quick 25-minute weeknight meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Sauce
02 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
→ Vegetables & Garnish
09 - 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1 medium carrot, julienned or shredded
11 - 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
→ Base
13 - 3 cups cooked white or brown rice
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon until fully browned. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar until well combined.
03 - Pour the sauce mixture over the browned beef in the skillet. Stir thoroughly and let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes so the beef absorbs the flavors. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Spoon the saucy Korean beef over each portion of rice.
05 - Arrange the shredded carrot, sliced cucumber, and sliced spring onions over the beef. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
06 - Serve immediately. Offer extra chili flakes or sriracha on the side for those who prefer more heat.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It delivers the deep, complex flavors of Korean takeout in less time than it takes to order delivery.
- The sauce uses pantry staples you probably already have, which means no special grocery runs on exhausted weeknights.
02 -
- Do not walk away from the skillet during the final minute of simmering because the sugar in the sauce can scorch very quickly once the liquid reduces.
- Letting the cooked beef sit in the sauce for five minutes off the heat actually improves the flavor as it continues to absorb every drop.
03 -
- Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes and you will never go back to the untoasted store bought version again.
- Double the sauce recipe and keep half in the fridge because it works as a marinade for chicken thighs, a glaze for roasted vegetables, or a quick stir fry seasoning for anything you have on hand.