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Easy Korean-Style Ground Beef Rice Bowls Recipe with Cucumber and Sesame for Quick Delicious Meals

Korean-style ground beef rice bowls - featured image
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A quick and easy Korean-style ground beef rice bowl featuring savory-sweet beef, fresh cucumber, and toasted sesame seeds for a flavorful and satisfying meal ready in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) lean or regular ground beef (85% lean preferred)
  • 4 cups cooked white rice (jasmine rice recommended; brown rice optional)
  • 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced or julienned
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (Kikkoman recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook 1 1/2 cups (280g) uncooked rice according to package instructions to yield about 4 cups cooked. Fluff with a fork and keep warm.
  2. While rice cooks, thinly slice cucumber and green onions, separating white and green parts.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook 5-7 minutes, breaking apart until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Stir in minced garlic and white parts of green onions. Cook 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding burning the garlic.
  5. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil in a small bowl or directly in the pan. Pour over beef and stir to coat. Simmer 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
  6. Spoon cooked rice into bowls. Top with ground beef mixture and add cucumber slices on the side or on top.
  7. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green parts of green onions. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
  8. Serve immediately while beef is warm and cucumber is crisp.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when browning beef to ensure caramelization. Drain excess fat to avoid sogginess. Toast sesame seeds beforehand for enhanced flavor. Add a splash of water or broth during simmering if beef seems dry. Optional fried or poached egg on top adds richness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Korean ground beef, rice bowl, quick dinner, sesame seeds, cucumber, easy recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-korean-style-ground-beef-rice-bowls-recipe-with-cucumber-and-sesame-for-quick-delicious-meals/