Craving a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner? These Asian Beef Bowls are about to become your new go-to. Tender beef, savory marinade, and endless customization options make this recipe a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Alright, let's gather our ingredients for these Asian Beef Bowls! First, you'll need 250 – 300 grams of salmon—skin it off, please! Got that? Next up, 2 tsp of oil, anything like vegetable, canola, or peanut, will work.
Now for the salad! I like 5 cups of lettuce—bite-sized is the way to go (I'm using cos lettuce)! You'll also want 15 cherry tomatoes, halved. A half avocado, sliced—because who doesn't love avocado? And finally, half a cucumber, deseeded and sliced. Don't skip deseeding—it makes a difference! Asian Beef Bowls are designed to be quick and easy weeknight dinners.
And don't forget we'll need 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1½ tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1 tsp sugar (or 1½ tsp honey) for the dressing later! That should cover it, you're ready to get started!
Preparation Instructions
Now, let's jump into preparing these amazing bowls—I promise it's easier than trying to parallel park! First, cube the salmon into roughly 1-inch pieces. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Next, whisk together soy sauce (1 tbsp), hoisin (2 tbsp), rice vinegar (2 tbsp), honey (2 tbsp), sriracha (1 tbsp), water (2 tbsp), and minced garlic (1 clove) in a bowl. Marinate the salmon in it for 3 minutes. You can also create a homemade satay for marinating the salmon to achieve a savory, sweet, and nutty flavor. In a jar, shake soy sauce (1 tbsp), sesame oil (1 tsp), white vinegar (1½ tbsp), olive oil (1 tbsp), and sugar (1 tsp) together.
Now, divide lettuce (5 cups), halved cherry tomatoes (15), sliced avocado (½), and cucumber (½) between two bowls. Heat oil (2 tsp) in a skillet. Cook salmon for 2 minutes. Then, pour in sauce and cook for 30 seconds until syrupy.
Serving Suggestions
Let's talk about how to serve these bowls because presentation matters, and I want your dinner to look as good as it tastes! I like using wide, shallow bowls — they really show off all the vibrant colors.
Think about layering. I usually start with a bed of rice, fluffy and warm. Then, I add the beef right on top, letting those delicious juices soak in. This guarantees every bite is flavorful.
Next comes the fun part! Arranging your toppings creates visual appeal–so don't be shy! I like to make sure I have cherry tomatoes halved, sliced avocado, and cucumber. Remember the sesame ginger dressing for salad use 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1½ tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1 tsp sugar. Finally, garnish your rice with scallions or shallots.
Recipe Notes
I've included various recipe notes to help you customize this dish to your liking! If you're watching your sodium intake, use low-sodium soy sauce—it works great.
Hoisin sauce is key, but oyster sauce can step in if needed! Don't have rice vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is a decent alternative. Swapping everything will change the flavor, but hey, it'll still be tasty!
When you're deseeding cucumbers, just slice them in half and scoop out those watery seeds—optional, but recommended. Regular olive oil is fine for the dressing, just make certain it's not too punchy.
The salmon will cook super fast! So add the salmon in a way you will remember (clockwise). By the time you place the last piece in, start turning the first.
Short Recipe Version
Asian Beef Bowls
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serving size: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup broccoli florets, steamed
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots (optional)
- 1/4 cup kimchi (optional)
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease.
- Pour sauce over beef and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Divide rice among bowls. Top with beef mixture, broccoli, carrots (if using), and kimchi (if using).
- Garnish with green onions.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 40g