Thai Beef and Basil Bowls with Peanut Sauce

When you need a simple, 30 minute meal that you and everyone in your orbit will devour, you’ve got to turn to this insanely delicious Thai Beef Basil Bowl. Perfectly seasoned ground beef, gorgeously fragrant coconut ginger rice and a super simple peanut sauce create the components of a make-your-own-bowl-style-meal that everyone can get excited about!

The details…

You’ll start by making the rice. While that is cooking away, you can whisk up your drizzly peanut sauce and set that aside. And finally, the ground beef will cook through with a few extra seasonings that take the flavours in this dish to the very next level.

The result?

Then it’s all about the toppings. If you’ve been following for a while, you know I love my toppings! I diced up cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, chopped cashews (or peanuts would work), some cilantro and sesame seeds. The best (and unexpected!) part was the diced mango! I would highly encourage some fruit in there! Weird but trust me!

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Thai Beef and Basil Bowls with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Coconut Ginger Rice:

• 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice

• 1 can coconut milk

• 1 cup water

• 1” piece of ginger, grated (or 1 tbsp pre-grated)

• 1 tsp salt

For the Peanut Sauce:

• 2/3 cup runny peanut butter

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• juice of 1 lime

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1-2 tsp sriracha

For the Beef:

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 medium onion

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp ginger, minced

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1-2 tsp sriracha

• 1 tbsp fish sauce

• 1/2 cup basil leaves, finely chopped

• sesame seeds to garnish

Optional Toppings but pick a couple at least: diced cucumber, sliced bell peppers, cilantro, chopped peanuts or cashews, grated carrots, steamed edamame, sliced or diced avocado, mint leaves, lime wedges.

Directions:

1. Begin by making your Coconut Ginger Rice by combining all ingredients into a medium sized pot with a tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil without the lid. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, give it a stir and put the lid on. Set a timer for 15 minutes.

2. The Drizzly Peanut Sauce is next. You’ll just whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a medium sized bowl until the right consistency. If necessary, thin the sauce out with warm water, a tablespoon at a time.

3. Now start with the beef. You’ll warm the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then add the onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Next, add in the ground beef, the ginger and the minced garlic. Cook this for about 3-4 more minutes, breaking the beef up with a wooden spoon. Season with salt.

4. When the meat looks mostly cooked through, add in the rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, honey and sriracha.

5. Take the beef off the heat and stir in the basil.

6. Time to start building your bowls! Start with that incredible rice. Layer on the beef, your toppings of choice and drizzle a generous amount of peanut sauce all over! Dig in!!

Do you love this style of Choose Your Own Adventure type meal? If so, you’ll love these ones too!

Shrimp Sushi Bowls

Beef Bulgogi Bowls

Basil Cashew Chicken

Slow Cooked Pull Pork with Vermicelli noodles

I LOVE creating easy weeknight dinners that the whole family enjoys. This one is absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you. If you tried this one, please leave a comment to let others know how it went! It helps people decide what the %^&* to make for dinner!