Craving a quick, flavorful, and authentic Thai dish? Look no further than this stir-fried beef with basil recipe! This vibrant and aromatic meal is surprisingly easy to make, even for beginner cooks. The combination of tender beef, fragrant basil, and a zesty sauce creates a symphony of tastes that will transport your taste buds straight to Thailand. We use readily available ingredients, ensuring this recipe is accessible and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Forget complicated techniques and long prep times; this recipe focuses on delivering maximum flavor with minimal fuss.
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this simple yet sensational stir-fry. This recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating this delicious dish, from prepping the ingredients to achieving that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. Let's dive into the detailed instructions and start cooking!
Tools Needed
- knife
- cutting board
- mortar and pestle
- wok or frying pan
Ingredients
- Beef: 300 grams
- Yardlong beans: 150 grams
- Basil leaves: 20 grams
- Thai garlic: 20 cloves
- Red chili peppers: 7
- Peppercorns: 1 teaspoon
- Fish sauce: 1 teaspoon
- Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Green-capped seasoning sauce: 1 teaspoon
- White soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
- Sugar: 1 teaspoon
- Peanut oil
- Soybean oil
- Kaffir lime leaves: 3
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare Ingredients & Marinate Beef
- Choose beef with a little fat and cut it thinly crosswise, as thin as possible.
- Cut yardlong beans into 1-inch pieces.
- Tear basil leaves.
- Pound garlic, chili peppers, and peppercorns in a mortar and pestle.
- Combine a portion of the pounded garlic, peppercorns, and chili peppers (about 1 tablespoon) with white soy sauce and sugar. Marinate the beef for at least 10 minutes.
Step 2. Stir-fry Aromatics & Beef
- Blanch yardlong beans in boiling water with salt until cooked to your liking. Immediately transfer to ice water to retain color and crispness.
- Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the pounded garlic, chili peppers, and peppercorns and stir-fry until fragrant.
- Add the marinated beef and stir-fry until partially cooked.
- Add the water used to rinse the mortar (or bone broth), then add fish sauce, green-capped seasoning sauce, oyster sauce, and kaffir lime leaves.
- Stir-fry until the beef is cooked through but still tender. Add the blanched yardlong beans and stir-fry briefly.
Step 3. Add Vegetables & Basil
- Add basil leaves and stir-fry until wilted.
Step 4. Serve
- Serve immediately.
Read more: Thai Basil Pork: A Quick & Easy Recipe (with Fried Egg!)
Tips
- Cutting the beef thinly crosswise makes it tender.
- Adding salt to the blanching water helps retain the vegetables' color.
- Don't overcook the beef; it should still have a slightly pink interior.
- Stir-frying the ingredients until well-cooked prevents the dish from becoming soggy.
Nutrition
- N/A
FAQs
1. Can I substitute the beef with another protein?
Absolutely! Chicken, pork, or even tofu work well. Adjust cooking time as needed.
2. What if I don't have all the ingredients listed?
Don't worry! Feel free to omit or substitute ingredients based on what you have available. The core flavors will still shine through.
This Stir-Fried Beef with Thai Basil recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual get-together. Enjoy the satisfying blend of savory beef, fragrant basil, and spicy sauce – a taste of Thailand in your own kitchen! Now go ahead and impress your family and friends with this delicious and easy-to-make dish.