I make sure I always have a supply of ground beef in my freezer. It’s versatile, quick-cooking, and budget-friendly. And because the meat is ground-up, it absorbs flavors in a jiffy. It’s a total lifesaver! In today’s round-up of recipes, I’ll give the ever-reliable meat an Asian twist. You’ll be surprised at the array of Asian dishes you can make with ground beef! From the Korean bibimbap to the Indian Keema to the Filipino lumpia, these recipes will give your meals a much-needed oomph.
1. Chinese Spaghetti Bolognese
Cook a classic bolognese, but make it Chinese! This mash-up of cuisines yields a fun and flavorful twist. It doesn’t require much, really. Instead of the usual ingredients to make bolognese, you’ll use things like Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil to flavor ground beef. Then just toss the sauce in spaghetti and boom, it’s ready to go. Here’s an idea: if you can find them, try egg noodles instead of pasta.
2. Beef Keema (Ground Beef)
From China, let’s head on over to the Middle East and have a bowl of beef keema! Don’t let its appearance fool you. Although it looks like a basic ground beef dish, keema will surprise you with its mind-blowing flavors. I’m talking ginger, garlic, chilies, turmeric, cloves, coriander, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom – the works! Imagine all those flavors in just one dish.
3. Pakistani and Indian-style Keema Matar (Ground Beef and Peas Curry)
Here’s another keema recipe you just can’t not try. Keema matar is a dish of ground beef and peas cooked in curry and other spices. Ground beef and peas — they’re just two ingredients, but they complement each other so well, they’ll create an explosion of tastes and textures. Tomatoes, lemon, yogurt, and Indian spices give the meat and veggie dish its flavor profile — bright, savory, creamy, and perfectly spicy.
4. Bibimbap
If you have no idea what bibimbap is, you’re in for a treat. This is the ultimate rice bowl! Bibimbap is a traditional Korean recipe of rice, meat, vegetables, fried egg, and gochujang – a sweet and spicy red chili paste. All the elements are arranged in a magnificent bowl. From the heartiness of the rice to the creaminess of the runny egg yolk, every component has something amazing to offer. Mix all the ingredients together to create the perfect bite.
5. Cantonese Ground Beef Rice and Eggs
This Cantonese rice bowl has a lot of similar components to bibimbap – ground beef and eggs served over rice. The difference lies in the sauce. Instead of the sweet and spicy gochujang (red chili paste), the ground beef is cooked in a thick, umami-rich sauce made of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine.
6. Thai Basil Beef (Pad Gra Prow)
Pad gra pow is a popular Thai street food dish of ground meat stir-fried with Thai holy basil and garlic and served with a fried egg and a bed of rice. For convenience, this recipe uses sweet basil instead of Thai holy basil. It’s just more easily accessible. But if you happen to find the original ingredient, by all means, give it a try.
7. Homemade Lumpia (Filipino Spring Rolls)
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of attending a Filipino-themed party, chances are, you’ve already had a bite of lumpiang Shanghai. This amazing finger food is made of ground beef and minced carrots wrapped in egg rolls and deep-fried to perfection. When I say they’re addictive, I mean it. Believe me, you’ll dream of this crunchy, meaty delight for days.
8. Spicy Thai Beef Larb
You’ve never had phenomenal Asian salad until you’ve had Thai beef larb. This Thai salad is made of toasted, ground-up Jasmine rice, ground beef, lettuce, vegetables, and a thick peanut sauce. Get ready for an explosion of tastes and textures! If there are no Thai restaurants nearby, here’s some good news: you can make larb at home. It’s easier than you think.
9. Beef Meatballs (Vietnamese)
These Vietnamese beef meatballs are coated with hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce is a sweet Asian glaze that definitely contributes a lot of flavor to the meatballs. But that’s not to say the meatballs alone are bland. In fact, they’re already so flavorful on their own (thank you Thai chilies, cilantro, fish sauce, and ginger), you can choose to skip the sauce.
10. Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles
Give those instant ramen noodles a 360-degree makeover with this quick and easy one-pot meal. In just 15 minutes, you’ll have transformed it into a gourmet dish worthy of any special occasion. Starchy noodles, saucy ground beef, and crunchy bean sprouts are tossed in a bowl. This is Asian comfort food at its best.
11. Kare Pan カレーパン Japanese Curry Bread
Kare pan is a ridiculously irresistible deep-fried pastry filled with ground meat curry. With its crunchy exterior and meaty interior, this is a snack you can’t just have one of! Now I won’t lie — this recipe isn’t the easiest. It calls for making bread and beef curry from scratch. Is it worth making? 100%.
12. Beef and Green Bean Rice (Loobia Polo)
Loobia Polo is a Persian recipe of rice, beef, and green beans. I know, from that description, it doesn’t sound at all too exciting. But as I always say — don’t knock it until you try it. The secret to this dish’s flavor is that all the ingredients are cooked in tomato paste, saffron, and spices. The rice is also steamed to create a crispy crust at the bottom, which is called tahdig. I cannot express enough how good it is!
13. Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
This recipe creates another variation of bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl. In this version, the ground beef is cooked with brown sugar, ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce, giving it a wonderful combination of sweet, salty, umami, and spicy. The ground beef alone gives me so much joy. But of course, it doesn’t end there. Completing the dish is a bed of steaming white rice.
14. Filipino-style Spaghetti
Together with lumpiang Shanghai, a Filipino children’s party is not complete without sweet spaghetti. Pinoy-style spaghetti has the same elements as the classic, but with more. The meat sauce is thicker and sweeter, and it’s studded with cut-up hot dogs. It’s also garnished with a generous sprinkling of cheddar cheese. Italians may frown upon this recipe, but Filipinos love it, and I do, too!
15. Chinese Eggplants with Ground Beef
The combination of Chinese eggplant and ground beef makes such a wonderful textural contrast. Cooked in Shaoxing wine, fish sauce, sesame oil, and Thai chilies, this dish bursts with the classic Chinese flavor profile but with a Thai twist. Be sure to save some for the next day! Leftovers are great for making lettuce wraps and burritos.
16. Filipino Picadillo
The term “picadillo” comes from the Spanish word, picar, which means to mince. It’s a Hispanic dish that the Philippines has adapted into their own. The Filipino picadillo is a dish of ground beef cooked with minced carrots and potatoes, green peas, julienned bell peppers, and sometimes raisins. It’s served with rice for a simple yet satisfying meal.
17. Tortang Giniling (Filipino Beef Omelette)
While tortes refer to cakes in many countries, in the Philippines, torta means omelette. Filipinos love to repurpose last night’s dinner into the next day’s breakfast by simply cooking it with eggs. Beef omelette is the result of picadillo mixed with beaten eggs and pan-fried a la fritter. Garnished with sweet banana ketchup and served with fried rice, this is a fantastic way to start the day.
18. Kabob Koobideh – Grilled Minced Meat Kabob
Kabob koobideh is a savory Persian dish made of ground lamb or beef, or a mix of both. Served with grilled tomatoes and onions and buttered Jasmine rice, this dish is impossible to resist. Its aroma alone will pull you in! And nope, you won’t need to go to a Persian restaurant to enjoy these sausage-like delights. These kabobs are easy enough to make at home.
19. Chinese Curry Puffs
Curry puffs are a popular item in Chinese bakeries, and for good reason. These savory turnovers of puffy and flaky on the outside, and savory and meaty on the inside. Both the filling and crust are amazing on their own, but it’s together when they’re at their most delightful. Don’t worry, there’s no need to make the pastry from scratch, here. Store-bought puff pastry is perfectly fine.
20. 30-Minute Hoisin Beef Bowls
Ground beef is seasoned with hoisin sauce and served with rice, cashews, sesame seeds, and shredded veggies. If you’ve ever had hoisin sauce, you know exactly just how flavor-packed it is. Just a pinch can already do wonders. Made from fermented soybeans, among other things, this Asian sauce is sweet, salty, and umami-rich. Think of it as barbecue sauce, only more intense.
21. Ground Beef Mongolian Noodles
These Mongolian noodles have the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and savory. The meat sauce is flavored with green onions, garlic, and a sweet soy and hoisin glaze. Seriously, any dish with hoisin sauce is a guaranteed hit! I mean, just look at it. From this photo alone, you can already tell how awesome it is.
22. Taiwanese Noodles with Meat Sauce
It’s yet another pasta dish, but this time, with a Taiwanese twist. What makes the meat sauce extra special is the mix of soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, five-spice powder, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms.
23. Healthy Korean Ground Beef with Vegetables
I mean, how beautiful does this bibimbap look? This stunning dish is complete with white rice, ground beef, colorful vegetables, and red chili paste. It’s hearty comfort food in a bowl.
24. Arroz a la Cubana (Filipino)
Arroz a la Cubana (Cuban-style rice) is a Filipino adaptation of a Hispanic meal. It’s made of fried rice, picadillo (seasoned ground meat), deep-fried bananas, and a fried egg. The different components work together in harmony to create one amazing dish.
25. Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi
Bulgogi is a sweet and savory sauce used to flavor meats. In this dish, it lends its flavors to ground beef. The beef is served on a bed of rice and topped with scallions, sesame seeds, and a soft-boiled egg. Click on a star to rate it!
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