Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Print Version)

Seasoned beef over rice with quick pickled vegetables for a satisfying Korean-inspired meal.

# What You Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
03 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon gochujang or sriracha, optional
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Rice Base

10 - 4 cups cooked jasmine rice or cauliflower rice

→ Quick Pickled Vegetables

11 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
12 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
13 - 1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced
14 - 1/2 cup rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

17 - Additional green onions, sliced
18 - Extra sesame seeds

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, stirring until dissolved. Add carrot, cucumber, and radish, tossing to coat evenly. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
02 - Prepare jasmine rice or cauliflower rice according to package instructions. Keep warm until assembly.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and gochujang to the beef. Stir well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and saucy.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
06 - Divide cooked rice or cauliflower rice among serving bowls. Top each with seasoned ground beef and a generous portion of pickled vegetables.
07 - Garnish with additional green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 35 minutes flat, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like a small celebration.
  • The contrast between savory seasoned beef and tangy pickled vegetables creates this addictive back-and-forth your taste buds won't stop chasing.
  • You can swap rice for cauliflower rice without sacrificing a single bit of satisfaction.
02 -
  • Don't skip the pickling step or rush it—those 15 minutes aren't wasted time, they're the transformation that makes this bowl special instead of just good.
  • The beef sauce should look glossy and coat the meat, not sit in a puddle; if it's too wet, let it reduce for another minute or two.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before using them—that small step transforms them from pleasant to unforgettable.
  • Keep all your ingredients prepped and ready before you touch the skillet; once you start cooking the beef, everything moves quickly and you don't want to be scrambling for minced garlic halfway through.
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