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Yields:
2 - 4 serving(s)
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
10 mins
Cal/Serv:
955
Sometimes recipes come to you in the most unexpected ways—this dinner is one of my favorite examples. It happened like this: I had ground beef that was supposed to be for Bolognese or meatballs, or maybe layered under fluffy buttery potatoes for shepherd’s pie. But then the sink was still full of dirty dishes, the kitchen counter a mess, and we were all hangry. I needed something fast, easy, and with minimal ingredients. That’s how this caramelized beef was conceived—it’s a rich-in-flavor and weeknight-friendly dinner that cooks in under 10 minutes! Here's everything you need to know:
How to caramelize the beef:
Brown the ground beef and then caramelize it with agave syrup (or any sweetener you prefer)—the sugars melt, darken, and get nutty delicious. You won’t get the dark crispy bits if the beef isn’t browned properly. It’ll still taste amazing, but texture is half the delight! Don't worry—the recipe includes a beef browning 101.
Variations:
I’ve riffed on this with ground pork, turkey, and chicken. Even crumbled (firm) tofu was delicious: Break it up with your fingers, pat it dry with paper towels, and proceed. I love it most over a pile of snowy rice. It’s also perfect wrapped in lettuce leaves or sprinkled over a salad.
More top tips:
- Once the meat drops into the hot pan, it’ll cook in no time. Have all your ingredients ready!
- If you have a microplane grater, you don’t even need a cutting board or a knife. Grate the ginger and garlic right over the pan.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp.
vegetable oil
- 1 lb.
ground beef (preferably 80/20)
- 1 Tbsp.
grated ginger
- 1 Tbsp.
minced garlic, from about 4 cloves
- 3 Tbsp.
soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp.
agave syrup (or any sweetener you prefer)
- 2 Tbsp.
sesame oil
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cooked rice, for serving
Optional toppings: chopped scallion greens or cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, sliced radishes, cucumbers, red onions, or tomatoes
Directions
- Step 1In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. When the oil is hot (rippling, but not smoking), add ground beef broken into small 2-inch clumps and with a little space between each piece. Don’t stir! Wait until the bottoms are dark brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Flip and brown other side, about 2 minutes. Using the side of a spatula or large spoon, break meat apart into small pieces. Continue cooking until no longer pink, about 1 minute.
- Step 2Add ginger and garlic. Continue stirring for 30 seconds.
- Step 3Stir in soy sauce and agave syrup, scraping the dark bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- Step 4Remove skillet off the heat. Drizzle sesame oil and adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with cooked rice and sprinkle with any of the optional toppings, if you’d like.
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