Craving something quick, delicious, and full of flavor? This Easy Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry is your go-to dish. Packed with vibrant veggies, hearty beef, and aromatic spices, it’s a perfect midweek meal that brings the taste of the Mediterranean to your table. Enjoy a burst of flavors with every bite, and let this effortless stir fry become a staple in your recipe rotation.
Steps
- Begin by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until it’s browned. Once done, remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat it up before adding the chopped vegetables. Stir and sauté the vegetables for about 5 minutes until they start to soften but retain some crispness.
- As the vegetables are cooking, mix all the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl and keep it ready for use.
- Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour the prepared stir fry sauce over the beef and vegetables, stirring quickly to ensure everything is well-coated.
- Turn off the heat once the sauce has thickened and coated all the ingredients. Garnish the stir fry with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
- Serve the stir fry over cooked white rice, or for a low-carb alternative, use cauliflower rice or serve in lettuce wraps.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 blend)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 large carrot, sliced into matchsticks
- 1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and chopped
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced or quartered
- 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos (or substitute with tamari or soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (or substitute with tapioca starch or cornstarch)
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped scallions
Nutritional Values
Calories: 1960 kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 140g | Fat: 120g | Saturated Fat: 36g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 72g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 404mg | Sodium: 1436mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 48g
FAQ
- Can I substitute the ground beef with another type of meat?
- Yes, you can swap out the ground beef for other ground meats such as chicken, turkey, or pork. Each will bring a slightly different flavor profile but will work well with the stir fry sauce.
- What are some alternative vegetables I can use in the stir fry?
- This recipe is very versatile and you can use a variety of vegetables. Apart from red bell pepper, carrot, mushrooms, and asparagus, you can also try broccoli, baby bok choy, zucchini, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, or mung bean sprouts.
- Can frozen vegetables be used in this recipe?
- Absolutely, frozen vegetables can be used. Just be mindful that they might need a slightly longer cooking time to ensure they are fully thawed and cooked properly.
- Is there a low-carb alternative to serving this stir fry with rice?
- Yes, for a lower-carb option, you can serve the stir fry with cauliflower rice or use lettuce wraps as a fresh alternative.
- How should leftovers be stored and reheated?
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The best way to reheat them is in a skillet over low heat, but using a microwave is also an option.
Tips
- Uniform Vegetable Size: Chop your vegetables to similar sizes to ensure they cook evenly and retain the right level of crispness.
- Prep in Advance: Make weeknight dinners easier by preparing the vegetables and stirring fry sauce ahead of time. Give the sauce a good mix before using to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
- Versatile Meat Options: Don’t limit yourself to ground beef; this recipe works well with other ground meats like chicken, turkey, or pork, allowing you to adapt based on what you have available.
- Serving Alternatives: For a lower-carb option, consider serving the stir fry with cauliflower rice or as lettuce wraps instead of traditional white rice.
Equipment
- Large Skillet – A high-quality, large skillet is essential for cooking the ground beef and vegetables efficiently.
- Zester or Grater – Needed for grating fresh ginger, if you don’t already have one.
- Whisk – Useful for mixing the stir fry sauce ingredients thoroughly.
- Small Bowl – For preparing and mixing the stir fry sauce.
- Rice Cooker – If you prefer to cook rice easily and consistently, a rice cooker might be a worthwhile purchase.
