Dinner Ideas: Thai Basil Beef

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Hey y’all! Ready to spice up your dinner routine? This Thai Basil Beef is bold and savory! Bursting with garlic, chilies, and fragrant Thai basil, this quick stir-fry packs restaurant-quality flavor with zero fuss. Serve it over jasmine rice, top it with a crispy fried egg, and get ready for serious flavor fireworks!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 6 Thai chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 cup green beans, sliced into ½-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• Salt, to taste
• 1–2 cups Thai basil leaves (loosely packed)
• Cooked jasmine rice, for serving
• Fried eggs, for serving (optional but highly recommended)

How to Make It:

1. Prepare the Sauce:

• In a small bowl, mix together the dark soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and brown sugar. Set aside.

2. Cook the Aromatics:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
• Add the chopped Thai chilies, minced garlic, and sliced shallots. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic).

3. Brown the Beef:

• Add the ground beef to the skillet.
• Stir-fry, breaking it up with a spatula, until it’s mostly cooked through and starting to brown, about 3–4 minutes.

4. Add the Veggies and Sauce:

• Toss in the green beans and stir-fry for another 2–3 minutes until they start to soften but still have a little crunch.
• Pour in the sauce mixture and toss everything together. Stir-fry for another 2–3 minutes, letting the sauce coat the beef and beans and reduce slightly.
• Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.

5. Add the Thai Basil:

• Turn off the heat and immediately stir in the Thai basil leaves. They will wilt quickly from the residual heat.

6. Serve:

• Spoon the Thai basil beef over cooked jasmine rice.
• Top with a crispy-edged fried egg if you like — the runny yolk mixed into the beef is chef’s kiss.