Thai Beef Basil

5 from 3 votes

Indulge in a delectable Thai basil beef dish that's easy to prepare and ready in under 15 minutes. This exquisite meal boasts an impeccable blend of savory, spicy, and sweet flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Don't rely on takeout—treat yourself to this mouth-watering recipe, even on your busiest day!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Servings:

Author: Bea & Marco

Ingredients

Main

2 shallots , chopped coarsely
10 garlic cloves , chopped coarsely
2 red chili , chopped coarsely
1 lb minced beef
1 cup packed sweet basil leaves

Sauce

1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
½ teaspoon dark soy sauce , optional
1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

Heat oil in a wok or a pan over medium-high heat. Add coarsely chopped shallots, garlic, and chilies, and cook until the garlic is golden brown.
Add minced beef, mix well, and continue cooking until it's almost fully cooked, for 2-3 minutes. This will ensure the meat stays tender and juicy. Break it into smaller pieces with the spatula as you go.
Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Mix well for 30 seconds.
Turn the heat off. Mix in the basil leaves until they're just wilted. Serve immediately. Enjoy your Thai basil beef with white rice, fried egg, and wedges of lime!

Notes

Use medium-high heat. This is important so the meat doesn't steam instead. You'll also get the golden brown bits from the veggies, which is amazingly delicious! The whole dish should not take more than 6-8 minutes of cooking.
Break the meat into small pieces. The delicious sauce will coat and season them better.
Chop the veggies and chilies coarsely. Traditionally, they're pounded coarsely using a pestle and mortar, but chopping them coarsely is the same. It also prevents them from being easily burnt.
Substitutes. If you don't have oyster or fish sauce, use low-sodium soy sauce instead. If you use common soy sauce, use half the amount and adjust accordingly.
Serve. This delicious Thai basil beef has a slightly more robust flavor because it's meant to be eaten with something mild and plain, like white rice. Fried egg and a squeeze of lime complete the dish!

Nutrition