Firecracker Beef

 Taken from RecipeTin Eats

Prep Time=3 minutes

Cook Time=10 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 326

Ingredients:

1 1/2 T oil

1 lb ground beef

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 tsp red pepper flakes

3 T water

Firecracker Sauce:

2 T soy sauce

2 T rice vinegar

4 T sriracha sauce

4 T brown sugar

To serve (optional):

Rice, soba, or vermicelli noodles

1 green onion, finely sliced

1 tsp sesame seeds

Diced cucumber, julienned carrot, finely sliced red radish

Extra sriracha sauce, if you dare!

Instructions:

1. Sauce: Mix Firecracker sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Cook beef: Heat oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until you can no longer see raw meat (2 1/2 minutes). Add garlic and chili flakes and cook for 1 minute.

3. Caramelize beef: Add firecracker sauce ingredients, stir to coat the beef. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring only every minute or so initially, then more towards the end, until the sauce reduces and you can see the beef caramelizing. Caramelize well for good flavor!

4. Water: Add the water and cook for 1 minute (the water makes the beef saucier!).

5. Serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds, green onion and a squirt of extra sriracha if you're feeling brave! Add a pile of vegetables of choice on the side. Dive in!

Notes:

1. Other proteins: This recipe will work well with pork, chicken, and turkey mince. 

2. Rice vinegar: Substitute with apple cider vinegar.

*I've made this twice, and we've really liked it. We put the cucumbers, carrots, and radish on top and it adds a nice crunch and freshness to the dish. The second time, we had green onions and sesame seeds on top also. I think it would be yummy with ground turkey or chicken, too, but I haven't tried it yet.