Asian ground beef bowl with creamy cucumber salad
Ingredients
- 2 (11⁄3 lbs) 2 (600 g) cucumber
- ½ cup 120 ml mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice or lime juice
- 2 tsp 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 2 garlic clove gratedgarlic cloves grated
- 1 tsp 1 tsp chili flakes
- 2 tsp 2 tsp lime juice
- salt to taste
- 1¾ lbs 800 g ground beef or ground chicken
- 7 oz. 200 g green cabbage finely shredded
- 4 4 garlic clove mincedgarlic cloves minced
- ¾ oz. (32⁄3 tbsp) 21 g (55 ml) fresh ginger grated
- 3 tbsp 3 tbsp tamari soy sauce
- 2 tsp 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp 1 tsp chili flakes
- 2 tsp 2 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice
- 2 tsp 2 tsp sesame seeds
- ½ cup (¼ oz.) 120 ml (8 g) fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Thinly slice the cucumbers. Whisk the mayonnaise, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated garlic, chili flakes, and lime juice. Season with salt, toss with the cucumber, and chill while you cook the beef.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks, until no longer pink.
- Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Stir in the soy sauce or tamari, sesame oil, chili flakes, and rice vinegar. Cook 1–2 minutes.
- Add the shredded cabbage and cook 1–2 minutes, until just wilted but still crisp.
- Divide the beef between bowls. Top with the creamy cucumber salad, fresh cilantro, sesame seeds, and extra chili flakes if you like.
How to meal prep Asian ground beef bowls
The ground beef mixture keeps well in the fridge for 3–4 days, making this recipe great for meal prep. Store the creamy cucumber salad separately and add it just before serving to keep the cucumber fresh and crisp.
How to keep it gluten-free
Use gluten-free tamari instead of regular soy sauce. Always check the label, as some soy sauces contain wheat.
Adjust the spice level
For a milder Asian ground beef bowl, reduce or omit the chili flakes. If you like more heat, add extra chili flakes or sliced fresh chili when serving.
Keep the cabbage crisp
Cook the shredded cabbage for just 1–2 minutes. It should soften slightly while still keeping some crunch, which adds texture to the beef bowl.
Low-carb serving ideas
Serve as is for an easy low-carb meal, or add extra shredded cabbage, cauliflower rice, or leafy greens for a larger serving.























