Thai Basil Beef
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Thin pieces of tender steak are seared in a hot skillet, then bright fresh veggies are sautéed and you’ll toss the two together along with a deliciously flavorful sauce. Then serve over steamed jasmine rice to complete the dish. A quick weeknight dinner you’ll love!
So I’ve decided I need more Thai food in my life. It’s so uniquely flavorful and it always leaves me craving more.
These hearty Thai Basil Beef Bowls are no exception to that! It’s a quick meal to throw together and it’s jam packed with amazing flavors! You’ll love the way the sauce compliments the beef and the bold flavor of all the fresh basil used here (if you ask me fresh basil is one of the best ingredients known to mankind).
If you haven’t tried much Thai food here is a great place to start. It doesn’t use loads of fish sauce, just enough to give it a nice depth of flavor, and it’s is an easy to follow straight forward recipe.
And once you buy the ingredients to make the sauce there are so many other recipes you can use those ingredients for (like these Thai Chicken Tacos, or this easy Chicken Chow Mein, or this Chicken Pad Thai. All of them are delicious btw).
Then if you are into hot sauce, the Sambal Oelek is good on pretty much anything. Add this recipe to your menu and try something new this week!
Follow Easy Cooking Zone
Thai Basil Beef
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups jasmine rice or long-grain white rice for serving
- 1 lb top sirloin steak, ribeye steak or flank steak, sliced against the grain into thin strips
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp + 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 red bell pepper, cored and seeded, diced into 2-inch strips
- 1/2 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil or Italian basil leaves (roughly chop larger leaves), plus more for garnish
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Sauce
- 3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp Sambal Oelek, or more to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare rice: Cook rice according to directions listed on package.
- For the sauce: In a small mixing bowl whisk together soy sauce and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in water, fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, lime juice and Sambal Oelek if using, set aside.
- For the beef: Toss beef with 1 Tbsp oil and 1 tsp cornstarch. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over moderately high heat. Add half of the beef and cook until browned on both sides but still slightly under-cooked in the center. Transfer beef to a plate while leaving oil in skillet and repeat with remaining 1 Tbsp oil and remaining half of the beef.
- For the veggies: Reduce heat slightly, add bell pepper, onions and garlic and saute until crisp tender, about 2 - 3 minutes (if needed you can add another 1 tsp of oil to the skillet). Add carrots and whisk sauce mixture once more then pour into skillet.
- Allow sauce to simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 1 minute. Return beef to skillet along with basil leaves, toss until basil has just wilted. Serve immediately over cooked rice garnished with small basil leaves and sesame seeds if desired.