ThaiMedium · Hot
A quick and aromatic stir-fry of savory ground beef infused with garlic, ginger, and a touch of lime, served alongside fragrant jasmine rice. Ready in under an hour!
15 min
30 min
45 min
Method
Roughly chop the fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems.
Cook on the white rice setting until fluffy and aromatic, about 20 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the wok, breaking it apart with your spatula. Cook for 5-7 minutes until nicely browned and cooked through.
Sprinkle in the cayenne pepper and white sugar. Stir everything together and let it bubble for 1 minute to marry the flavors.
Fluff the cooked jasmine rice with a fork and spoon it onto plates or into bowls.
Serve with extra lime wedges on the side — squeeze as much bright, tangy lime as your heart desires!
Nutri-Score
Fair balance
A–E · lower is better · score 3
Calories
737
per serving
Protein
40g
Carbs
80g
Fat
27g
Sat. fat
12g
Fiber
2g
Sugar
2g
Sodium
355mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Very high impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
13
per serving
Water
1.7m³
Land
298Pt
Runoff
0.2g P
Ground Beef drives 97% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Techniques
Safety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) to eliminate harmful bacteria. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
Handling
Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw ground beef to prevent cross-contamination with ready-to-eat ingredients like cilantro and lime wedges.
Allergen Warning
Verify that soy sauce used does not contain hidden fish ingredients or shared processing equipment with fish products for individuals with fish allergies.
High Risk Population
Ensure beef is thoroughly cooked for pregnant women, elderly individuals, young children, and immunocompromised persons to prevent foodborne illness from undercooked meat.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Store cooked beef and rice separately in airtight containers. Consume within 3-4 days.
Cross Contamination
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw ground beef. Sanitize all surfaces, utensils, and the wok after cooking raw meat.
Equipment Safety
When heating coconut oil in a wok at high temperatures, monitor closely to prevent smoking. Do not leave unattended.
Rice Safety
When using day-old rice, it must be refrigerated within 2 hours of original cooking and stored at 40°F (4°C) or below. Never leave cooked rice at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Reheat rice to 165°F (74°C) before serving to kill any potential Bacillus cereus spores.
Pro Tips
Technique
When browning your ground beef, resist the urge to constantly stir — let it sit for 30-45 seconds between turns to develop those beautiful caramelized bits. Those crispy edges? That's where the flavor lives, na krap!
Substitution
No ground beef on hand? Ground chicken or turkey works wonderfully here too — just watch the cooking time as they're leaner. And if you want to go more traditional Thai, swap half the soy sauce for fish sauce for that umami depth.
From the chef
This dish reminds me of my grandmother's quick weeknight creations in Chiang Mai — she could transform humble ground beef into something that made the whole neighborhood lean toward our open windows, na krap. The magic is in the balance: garlicky, gingery warmth, a kiss of cayenne fire, and that bright squeeze of lime that makes everything sing. Simple ingredients, extraordinary result — that is the Thai way, my friend.
Source: generated · June 10, 2026