Recipe: Quick and Easy Basil Beef

published Oct 7, 2015
Jump to Recipe
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: The Woks of Life)

I have a minor obsession with this basil beef; it is an absolutely perfect weeknight meal. Not only will it make you eschew takeout menus for years to come, but you’ll also be able to make it in 15 minutes flat with only 10 ingredients. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.

For me, this dish has that incredibly comforting, all-is-right-with-the-world quality that can make me feel better after a long day. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I only need to be in the kitchen for a few minutes before I’m parking myself on the couch with a big bowl of rice and saucy beef, basil, and vegetables.

The night before, I will usually put the beef in the fridge to defrost while I’m out at work the next day. Then, when I come home, all I need to do is take a few minutes to slice up the beef and a few veggies, and then another few minutes to cook it. I’ll heat up some of the rice I made earlier in the week, and voilà! Dinner. Demolished.

Almost all the ingredients in this recipe can be found at any grocery store (or already in your pantry). The only one you might have trouble finding is fish sauce, which is often used in Southeast Asian cooking. The ingredient is optional, but I think it adds amazing flavor and authenticity to the dish. For the star herb, you can use whatever basil you can get your hands on — Thai basil and Italian basil will both work.

(Image credit: The Woks of Life)

Quick and Easy Basil Beef

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 pound

    flank steak or sirloin steak, sliced thinly against the grain

  • 2 teaspoons

    plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 2 teaspoons

    cornstarch

  • 5 cloves

    garlic, chopped

  • 1

    red bell pepper, julienned

  • 1

    medium onion, thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons

    soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons

    fish sauce (optional)

  • 2 teaspoons

    sugar

  • 1 cup

    fresh Thai or Italian basil leaves, packed

  • Steamed rice, for serving

Instructions

Show Images
  1. Toss the sliced beef with 2 teaspoons oil and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Heat your wok over high heat, and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Sear the beef until just browned (but still a little rare), remove from the wok, and set aside.

  2. Add the garlic, red bell pepper, and onions to the wok and stir-fry until tender. Toss the beef back in, along with the soy sauce, fish sauce (if using), and sugar. Stir-fry for another few seconds, and then fold in the basil until it’s just wilted. Serve with steamed rice.

Visit The Woks of Life Online

For more recipes, amusing anecdotes, and a wellspring of advice on Chinese cooking methods and ingredients, check out The Woks of Life. You can also follow the Leung family on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.