Whether it’s served over steamed rice or spicy noodles, you can’t go wrong with this Thai Basil Beef dish. It’s the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy.
What We Love About This Thai Basil Beef
- Authentic Thai food at home: Our Thai basil beef recipe incorporates traditional Thai flavors into one beautifully made, homemade dish. Serve it over steamed jasmine rice, rice noodles, or a side of stir-fried vegetables.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses readily available ingredients (nothing fancy!), making it a hassle-free choice for home cooks.
- Mild to Wickedly Spicy: You can adjust the spice level based on your preferences without compromising the authentic Thai flavor profile.
Thai Basil Beef Ingredients
- Signature Thai Basil Beef Sauce – Chili paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice
- Oil for Cooking – Vegetable or even olive oil would be ideal for this recipe.
- Beef Sirloin – To ensure that each bite of beef is juicy and tender, use beef sirloin that has been thinly sliced against the grain.
- Aromatics – Red bell pepper, sweet onion, and garlic cloves work well with the other ingredients, creating a savory base.
- Thai Basil –Unlike sweet basil, Thai basil has a slightly spicy and licorice-like taste, which makes it perfect for this dish. You can distinguish it by its purplish stems.
How to Make Thai Basil Beef
- Make the signature sauce. Whisk together the chili paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice.
- Brown the beef. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat, then add the sliced beef. Make sure not to overcook.
- Stir-fry until the vegetables. Add the garlic, red pepper, and onion to the browned beef.
- Add the sauce and Thai basil. Cook just until the Thai basil starts to wilt.
- Serve over white rice. This dish can also be served over Thai noodles or a fresh salad.
Storing and Reheating Instructions:
- To store: Refrigerate the cooked Thai Basil Beef in an airtight container for up to two days.
- To reheat: Warm your Thai basil beef in a large skillet on the stove over low to medium heat, adding a splash of water if needed to rehydrate the dish.
Additional Ingredients
- Crushed Peanuts: Adds a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Use toasted or raw peanuts.
- Sesame Seeds: Toasted sesame seeds provide a nutty flavor and also serve as a visually appealing garnish.
- Lime Wedges: Lime wedges can be served on the side for a citrusy twist.
- Bean Sprouts: Adds a refreshing crunch and contrasts with the savory flavors of this Thai basil beef dish.
- Chili Flakes: Add some chili flakes on top if you want to bump up the spice level even more.
Thai Basil Beef
Whether served over rice or noodles, you can't go wrong with this Thai Basil Beef recipe. It's the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
- 1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup fresh basil Thai leaves
- 1 tbsp chili paste
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Add the chili paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over hight heat.
- Add the beef and cook until browned.
- Add the garlic, red pepper and onion and stir-fry until vegetables start to soften.
- Add the soy sauce mixture and fresh basil and continue cooking until basil starts to wilt.
- Serve immediately with cooked rice.
Notes
You can also use thinly sliced flank steak as an alternative to beef sirloin.
Nutrition
Calories: 204kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 27gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 932mgPotassium: 621mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 945IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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