This recipe creates a colorful and flavorful stir-fry featuring seasoned ground beef and a variety of crisp-tender vegetables. It’s a quick and easy one-pan meal perfect for a weeknight dinner, offering a balance of protein and nutrients. The dish is typically seasoned with soy sauce and other Asian-inspired flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 small eggplant, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Cooked rice or noodles, for serving
- Optional garnish: Chopped green onions, sesame seeds
Instructions:
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop all the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the onion starts to soften.
- Add Vegetables: Add the chopped bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant to the skillet. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Add Sauce to Stir-Fry: Pour the sauce over the ground beef and vegetables in the skillet. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld.
7. Serve: Serve the savory ground beef and vegetable stir-fry hot over cooked rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Tips and Notes:
- Vegetable Variations: Feel free to use other vegetables you enjoy, such as broccoli florets, snap peas, mushrooms, or carrots. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
- Meat Variations: You can also use ground turkey, chicken, or pork in this stir-fry.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preference for heat.
- Sweetness: Add a teaspoon of honey or brown sugar to the sauce for a touch of sweetness.
- Thickening the Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the stir-fry during the last minute of cooking.
- Make Ahead: You can chop the vegetables ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator. The sauce can also be mixed in advance. Cook the ground beef fresh for the best texture.
- Storage: Leftover stir-fry can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave.