(Cheap) Korean Beef

This recipe is already one my hubby has asked me to make again.  He LOVED it!  I got it from this gal.  This recipe is so easy, so cheap & has LOADS of flavor!  Yum!  We are for sure making this again, & if we don't feel so cheap, we will cut up some flank steak in thin strips instead of the ground beef.
 


Cheap Korean Beef
1 lb LEAN ground beef (I used 85/15.  Apparently the fattier the beef the greasier/oilier the dish is & apparently it will look gross, so don't do that.)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar (I actually did 1/4 cup, which was still sweet, but doesn't look as glazed as the original poster's.)
1/4 cup soy sauce (I use less sodium soy sauce.)
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, minced (You can buy a piece of ginger root, peel it, & cut it into 1-inch cubes, freeze & pull what you need. [Rachael Ray tip of the day.]  It freezes well & actually grates easily too.)
1/2 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper (To desired spiciness; I am a wimp & did 1/2 tsp, whereas my hubby wished it was a little spicier.)
Salt & Pepper
Green Onions (Don't skip this!)


1.  Brown meat in skillet with garlic & sesame oil.  Drain any excess grease/oil.
2.  Add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red peppers, salt & pepper.  Simmer a few minutes to marry the flavors & serve over rice; top with green onions.  YUM!

*Update 8/4/2013: My family has this meal quite frequently.  We enjoy ours with extra sauce & some vegetables which kind of stretches the dish.  We still gobble it all up, but it's more of a well rounded meal this way.  Here is the slightly varied version:

Cheap Korean Beef with Vegetables

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp minced ginger
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 (16oz) bag frozen California vegetables

1. Brown meat in skillet with garlic & sesame oil.  Drain any excess grease/oil.
2. Add frozen vegetables to the empty skillet & cover with a lid.  Cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until just tender.
3. Push vegetables to the outer edge of the pan.  Return beef back into the center of the pan & then add the brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, & cornstarch over the beef.  Stir & allow the sauce on the beef to come to a boil.  
4. Once everything is heated & the sauce is thick (about 1-2 minutes), toss the saucy beef with the vegetables, then serve over rice & top with green onions.

This recipe is already one my hubby has asked me to make again.  He LOVED it!  I got it from this gal.  This recipe is so easy, so cheap & has LOADS of flavor!  Yum!  We are for sure making this again, & if we don't feel so cheap, we will cut up some flank steak in thin strips instead of the ground beef.
 


Cheap Korean Beef
1 lb LEAN ground beef (I used 85/15.  Apparently the fattier the beef the greasier/oilier the dish is & apparently it will look gross, so don't do that.)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar (I actually did 1/4 cup, which was still sweet, but doesn't look as glazed as the original poster's.)
1/4 cup soy sauce (I use less sodium soy sauce.)
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, minced (You can buy a piece of ginger root, peel it, & cut it into 1-inch cubes, freeze & pull what you need. [Rachael Ray tip of the day.]  It freezes well & actually grates easily too.)
1/2 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper (To desired spiciness; I am a wimp & did 1/2 tsp, whereas my hubby wished it was a little spicier.)
Salt & Pepper
Green Onions (Don't skip this!)


1.  Brown meat in skillet with garlic & sesame oil.  Drain any excess grease/oil.
2.  Add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red peppers, salt & pepper.  Simmer a few minutes to marry the flavors & serve over rice; top with green onions.  YUM!

*Update 8/4/2013: My family has this meal quite frequently.  We enjoy ours with extra sauce & some vegetables which kind of stretches the dish.  We still gobble it all up, but it's more of a well rounded meal this way.  Here is the slightly varied version:

Cheap Korean Beef with Vegetables

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp minced ginger
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 (16oz) bag frozen California vegetables

1. Brown meat in skillet with garlic & sesame oil.  Drain any excess grease/oil.
2. Add frozen vegetables to the empty skillet & cover with a lid.  Cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until just tender.
3. Push vegetables to the outer edge of the pan.  Return beef back into the center of the pan & then add the brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, & cornstarch over the beef.  Stir & allow the sauce on the beef to come to a boil.  
4. Once everything is heated & the sauce is thick (about 1-2 minutes), toss the saucy beef with the vegetables, then serve over rice & top with green onions.