Spicy Korean Ground Beef Salad (Printable Version)
Bold, spicy Korean beef with crisp vegetables and tangy sesame dressing—ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Spicy Korean Beef
01 - 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend recommended
02 - 2 tablespoons avocado oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1-inch fresh ginger, grated, approximately 1 tablespoon
05 - 2 tablespoons tamari
06 - 1 tablespoon gochujang
07 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
09 - 1 tablespoon erythritol
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Salad Base
12 - 6 cups mixed salad greens
13 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
14 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
15 - 1/2 cup carrots, julienned
16 - 4 green onions, sliced
17 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Sesame Dressing
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
19 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
20 - 2 teaspoons tamari
21 - 1 teaspoon erythritol
22 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
23 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
24 - Pinch of salt
→ Garnishes
25 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
26 - 1 small red chili, thinly sliced
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned throughout, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
03 - Pour in tamari, gochujang, rice vinegar, sesame oil, erythritol, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats the beef. Remove from heat.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, tamari, erythritol, lime juice, minced garlic, and salt until thoroughly emulsified and smooth.
05 - Divide mixed greens, shredded cabbage, sliced cucumber, julienned carrots, green onions, and cilantro evenly among 4 individual bowls or plates.
06 - Spoon hot Korean beef mixture over the prepared salad beds. Drizzle with sesame dressing and finish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced red chili. Serve immediately while beef is warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spicy beef transforms an ordinary salad into something you will actually crave
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup
02 -
- Letting the beef get deeply browned and crispy adds way more flavor than just cooking it until done
- Carrots add color but push the carbs up, so skip them or swap for radishes on strict keto
03 -
- Use a microplane to grate the ginger so it almost dissolves into the beef
- Let the beef rest in the pan for 5 minutes off the heat so the sauce really clings to every crumb