Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
Sweet and savory ground beef is cooked with ginger, garlic, and onions and simmered in an amazing Asian sauce with soy, sesame oil, brown sugar and red pepper flakes to balance the sweet with some heat in these Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps.
My kids love lettuce wraps. I typically make them with ground chicken or ground turkey, but they are equally as good with ground beef. I love them because they are so easy to prepare and I know the kids are getting a serving of vegetables with the lettuce cup.
Funny story – I had tried this Korean beef recipe using a vegan ground “meat” product that was free at Safeway in February. I didn’t tell anyone that we were not eating meat and they devoured the entire meal. Good to know in the event that there is a meat shortage!
But this recipe definitely uses beef. Safeway has 93% lean ground beef on sale for $3.97/lb. for the value packs now through May 5th. This is a fabulous recipe to use on at least one or two pounds of that value pack of beef.
Korean beef will become a regular recipe on your meal rotation that you can make with ground beef and mostly pantry staples! Serve it over rice, or in lettuce cups – the choice is yours, but you will love this Korean beef!
Ingredients in Korean Beef
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced, green parts separated from white parts
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or sriracha)
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Lettuce cups (bibb or butter lettuce)
- carrots, cut into matchsticks (optional)
- rice (optional)
- sriracha (optional)
How to Make Korean Beef
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the meat is halfway done cooking, add the grated ginger, minced garlic and whites of the scallion to the pan and stir to incorporate.
In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and the red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
Once the ground beef mixture is fully cooked through, add the sauce to the pan and stir to coat evenly and incorporate all the flavors.
Serve in the lettuce cups with the green chopped scallions, toasted sesame seeds and matchstick carrots.
Note – you can make extra sauce to serve on the side. I would do 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil and a dash of sriracha mixed together as a dipping sauce.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or sriracha
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Lettuce cups bibb or butter lettuce
- carrots cut into matchsticks (optional)
- rice optional
- sriracha optional
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the meat is halfway done cooking, add the grated ginger, minced garlic and whites of the scallion to the pan and stir to incorporate.
- In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and the red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Once the ground beef mixture is fully cooked through, add the sauce to the pan and stir to coat evenly and incorporate all the flavors.
- Serve in the lettuce cups with the green chopped scallions, toasted sesame seeds and matchstick carrots.
Notes
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