Firecracker Beef
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
3 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
326 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Asian
Firecracker Beef
Description
This recipe starts by stir-frying ground beef with finely minced garlic and chili flakes in neutral oil until browned. The Firecracker sauce — consisting of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, and brown sugar — is added to coat and caramelize the beef, creating a rich glaze as the sugar cooks down. Adding a small amount of water at the end loosens the sauce, ensuring a saucier texture without losing the caramelization.
The heat level is moderate but can be adjusted by modifying the chili flakes and sriracha quantities. The balance of sweet and tangy flavors complements the savory beef, giving the dish complexity beyond a simple stir-fry. It is served sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions, and paired with rice or noodles and crisp vegetables like julienned carrot, cucumber, and radish.
Firecracker Beef works well as a quick dinner option that brings bold flavors from common pantry ingredients, and leftovers can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for months. Reheating with a splash of water keeps the beef moist and saucy.
Ingredients
- 1½ tbsp neutral cooking oil vegetable, canola, peanut, generic cooking oil
- 500g / 1 lb ground beef Note 1, beef mince
- 2 garlic finely minced, cloves
- 1 tsp chili flakes adjust to your taste, or red pepper flakes
- 3 tbsp water
Firecracker sauce:
- 2 tbsp soy sauce , light or all-purpose (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (Note 3)
- 4 tbsp Sriracha sauce (Note 4)
- 4 tbsp brown sugar (tightly packed)
To serve (optional!):
- rice soba or vermicelli noodles
- 1 green onion , finely sliced
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- cucumber diced cucumber, julienned carrot, finely sliced red radish
- carrot
- red radish
- Sriracha sauce if you dare!, extra
Instructions
- Sauce: Mix Firecracker sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cook beef: Heat oil in a large frypan over high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until you can no longer see raw meat (2½ minutes). Add garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 1 minute.
- Caramelise beef: Add Firecracker sauce ingredients, stir to coat the beef. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring only every minute or so initially, then more towards the end, until the sauce reduces and you can see the beef caramelising. Caramelise well for good flavour!
- Water: Add the water and cook for 1 minute (the water makes the beef saucier!)
- Serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds, green onion and a squirt of extra sriracha if you're feeling brave! Add a pile of vegetables of choice on the side. Dive in!
Notes
- Adjust spiciness mainly by reducing chili flakes, then sriracha as needed; sriracha also adds flavor beyond heat.
- Use minimal sugar for caramelization and to balance the sauce; reducing sugar increases perceived spiciness and alters flavor.
- This recipe works well with pork, chicken, turkey mince, or crumbled tofu; reduce sugar by 1 tablespoon when using tofu.
- Use light or all-purpose soy sauce, not dark soy, to avoid overpowering flavor.
- Rice vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar if unavailable.
- Leftover beef stores well in the fridge for 3-4 days or freezer for up to 3 months; add water when reheating to maintain moisture.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 326 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 326cal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 13g | 4% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 81mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 934mg | 39% |
| Potassium | 472mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 51IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 38mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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