It is a thrifty but glorious dinner for all these occasions it’s essential scratch your Spicy Asian Meals itch, quick! Seared beef mince will get tossed via a fiery Firecracker Sauce, all served over rice or noodles, a bit like a spicy beef model of the much-loved Vietnamese Caramelised Pork Mince.
Firecracker Beef
“I want a spicy Asian meals repair!” It’s a widely known wail often heard from me, particularly throughout intensive durations of non-Asian meals cooking work, like through the making of the cookbook. Lovers of Asian meals will perceive precisely what I imply. It’s a recurring style craving that, when left unhappy for too lengthy, rears its head like a waking beast.
The satisfaction the beast seeks is explicit. It’s chilli-laced, big-flavoured Asian meals. I’m speaking the likes of Thai Drunken Noodles. Chilli Garlic Prawns. Dan Dan Noodles. Laksa. Something bold-tasting with wallop of tongue-tickling spicy warmth. Nothing else will do!
The most recent and fairly probably the fastest-to-make addition to my spicy Asian repertoire that matches the invoice is that this Firecracker Beef, aptly named as a result of it’s a literal flavour explosion! Assume spicy, deeply savoury leaning a little bit candy, all given some legs with a contact of vinegar.
It’s as tasty as they arrive and really, very quick to make!
What you want for Firecracker Beef
Right here’s what it’s essential make Firecracker sauce.
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Sriracha – A Thai chilli sauce offered in all places nowadays (Asian aisle and/or sauce aisle of supermarkets). That is the principle supply of spiciness on this recipe. It additionally provides flavour as sriracha is made with extra than simply chilli, together with garlic, vinegar, salt and sugar.
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Chilli flakes (purple pepper flakes) – The second supply of spiciness within the dish, this provides a extra earthy chilli style along with the tangy, contemporary chilli style of the sriracha. To scale back the spiciness, dial the chilli flakes again first earlier than lowering sriracha. Sriracha provides extra flavour into the dish than chilli flakes, so it’s extra important.
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Beef mince (floor beef) – Any fats proportion is ok: lean or normal. The fattier it’s, the higher the meat will caramelise.
Different proteins – Floor hen, pork or turkey all work properly with Firecracker sauce!
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Sugar – Firecracker sauce’s flavour profile is spicy and candy, so that is the candy. It additionally helps the meat caramelise which provides much more flavour to the general dish.
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Rice vinegar – This offers the sharpness within the dish to offset the candy and savoury. I exploit rice vinegar consistent with the Asian spirit of this dish however apple cider vinegar will be substituted in a pinch.
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Gentle soy – The first supply of salt for this recipe. All-purpose soy sauce may also be used, however not darkish soy sauce as a result of the flavour and color is simply too intense. Extra on several types of soy sauces and methods to substitute right here!
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Garlic – Recent garlic is a vital fragrant flavour base that seems in 99% of my savoury recipes. You’d be arduous pressed to discover a dinner recipe with out garlic!
The way to make Firecracker Beef
You’re quarter-hour away from fortunately hoovering this down! Prepared, set, GO!
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Firecracker sauce – Combine all of the components in a bowl.
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Prepare dinner beef – Utilizing a big non-stick pan over excessive warmth, prepare dinner the meat till you’ll be able to not see uncooked meat. Then add the garlic and chilli flakes and prepare dinner for an additional 1 minute till the garlic bits are golden.
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Sauce it – Add the Firecracker sauce and prepare dinner for 5 to 7 minutes on excessive warmth till the sauce reduces and the meat begins to caramelise. Caramelisation is the important thing to creating a wickedly good Firecracker something, so don’t shortcut this step!
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Moisten it up – After the meat is caramelised, you’ll discover that it appears to be like a bit dried out. It is because all of the sauce has decreased, caramelised and caught to the meat (= flavour!) To rectify this, we simply add a slosh of water to juice up the meat a bit and provides it a extra saucy end. Give it a fast stir and it’s accomplished!
The way to serve Firecracker Beef
My default is to serve over white rice with some uncooked greens (cucumber, carrot and radish pictured). I like the crunchy-textured, cooling and refreshing distinction they’ve towards all that massive flavour within the tender beef. For garnishes, sprinkle with inexperienced onion, sesame seeds and a squirt of additional sriracha when you’re feeling it’s an extra-spicy kinda night.
To eat, simply combine the meat via the rice and devour with a spoon. As a result of the meat is generously flavoured, I don’t even really feel the necessity for dressing over the greens. If you happen to needed one thing fast although, attempt my Asian Sesame Dressing.
For one thing completely different….
It’s additionally nice with soba noodles or vermicelli noodles (a superb no-cook-just-soak possibility). Or make Asian-inspired Sloppy Joes or tacos:
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Stuff heat buttered rolls or tortillas with this Firecracker Beef together with a easy slaw or salad leaves
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Quesadillas – Firecracker beef, cheese and every other add-ins you fancy!
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High with flippantly pickled greens just like the carrot in Banh Mi, these pickled purple onions from Fish Tacos or cucumber ribbons in Beetroot Cured Salmon
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End with a squirt of sriracha and for additional indulgence, some kewpie mayonnaise.
I haven’t made any of those earlier than however now I wish to attempt them, instantly!! – Nagi x
Watch methods to make it
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Firecracker Beef
Prep: 3 minutes
Prepare dinner: 10 minutes
Major
Asian
Servings4
Faucet or hover to scale
Directions
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Sauce: Combine Firecracker sauce components in a small bowl and put aside.
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Prepare dinner beef: Warmth oil in a big frypan over excessive warmth. Add beef and prepare dinner, breaking it up as you go, till you’ll be able to not see uncooked meat (2½ minutes). Add garlic and chilli flakes and prepare dinner for 1 minute.
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Caramelise beef: Add Firecracker sauce components, stir to coat the meat. Prepare dinner for five to 7 minutes, stirring solely each minute or so initially, then extra in direction of the top, till the sauce reduces and you may see the meat caramelising. Caramelise properly for good flavour!
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Water: Add the water and prepare dinner for 1 minute (the water makes the meat saucier!)
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Serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds, inexperienced onion and a squirt of additional sriracha when you’re feeling courageous! Add a pile of greens of alternative on the facet. Dive in!
Recipe Notes:
1. Different proteins – This recipe will work properly with pork, hen and turkey mince.
2. Soy sauce – Use gentle or all-purpose soy. Don’t use darkish soy sauce, the flavour will likely be too intense. Extra on several types of soy sauce right here.
3. Rice vinegar – Substitute with apple cider vinegar.
4. Sriracha – A Thai chilli sauce discovered in all places nowadays. Provides extra than simply spiciness, it provides flavour too because it’s flavoured with garlic, vinegar, sugar and salt.
5. Storage – Leftover cooked beef will hold for 3 to 4 days within the fridge, or freezer for 3 months. When reheating, add a splash of water to juice it up!
6. Diet per serving, beef solely (ie not rice or greens).
Diet Info:
Energy: 326cal (16%)Carbohydrates: 13g (4%)Protein: 26g (52%)Fats: 18g (28%)Saturated Fats: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 9gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 81mg (27%)Sodium: 934mg (41%)Potassium: 472mg (13%)Fiber: 0.3g (1%)Sugar: 12g (13%)Vitamin A: 51IU (1%)Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)Calcium: 38mg (4%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
Lifetime of Dozer
Dishonest on Dozer in Melbourne at a e-book signing on the weekend. A stunning variety of folks introduced their canines in!!!
Then re-united 12 hours later. ❤️
I spent a lot time answering questions on him on the e-book signings it made me miss him like loopy!! However the logistics of taking him to Melbourne was simply too arduous. Subsequent e-book we’ll make it occur! He was in excessive demand, that’s for certain. 😂