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A completed dish of Thai basil beef served over white rice in a gray bowl. The dish features ground beef, red bell peppers, and fresh basil leaves, garnished with sliced green onions.

Thai Basil Beef

5 from 1 vote
A flavorful, quick, and customizable Thai basil beef dish that's ready in under 30 minutes!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 5
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Calories: 295
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil For sautéing
  • 2 shallots chopped Adds mild sweetness and texture
  • 8 cloves garlic minced Aromatic base
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced Adds warmth and spice
  • 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced Adds color and sweetness
  • 1.5 lbs lean ground beef Use ground chicken or pork for variation
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar Balances the savory flavors
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce Provides umami
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce Savory, salty base
  • 1.5 tablespoons oyster sauce Adds richness, substitute hoisin if needed
  • 2 –3 tablespoons chili paste with garlic Adjust to spice preference
  • ¾ cup low-sodium beef broth For liquid and richness
  • ⅓ cup water Dilutes the broth slightly for sauce consistency
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch Thickens the sauce
  • 1.5 cups holy basil leaves chopped Traditional herb for authentic flavor
  • 3 green onions chopped For garnish
  • 5 cups hot cooked rice For serving

Method
 

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, until softened.
  3. Push the vegetables to one side of the pan, then add the ground beef. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks. (A meat chopper works well for this.)
  4. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili paste, cornstarch, beef broth, and water. Stir until well mixed, then pour it into the pan.
  5. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
  6. Add the chopped basil leaves to the pan and stir well.
  7. Serve the Thai basil beef over hot rice and garnish with chopped green onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 34gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 1854mgPotassium: 818mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1219IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 4mg

Notes

This Thai Basil Beef is a quick and customizable meal, perfect for a busy weeknight. The flavor comes together beautifully with a balance of sweet, savory, and spicy, all served over warm rice!

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