Name: 15-Minute Korean Beef and Quinoa Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef; 3 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp hoisin sauce; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 1 cup quinoa; 2 cups water or low-sodium broth; 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Description

This 15 Minute Korean Beef and Quinoa recipe is a quick and flavorful dish combining savory ground beef with a tangy, sweet Korean-inspired sauce served over nutritious quinoa. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner, it brings together the rich umami of soy and hoisin with ginger and garlic, accented by green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

Ingredients

Beef and Sauce

1 lb lean ground beef
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Quinoa

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water or low-sodium broth

Garnish

2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

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Instructions

Prepare Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa well under cold water to remove any bitterness. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the grains are fluffy and the liquid is absorbed.
Cook Beef: While quinoa cooks, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes if using.
Combine Beef and Sauce: Pour the sauce over the browned beef in the skillet. Stir to coat evenly and cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and infuse the beef with flavor.
Assemble and Serve: Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and divide it onto serving plates. Top with the Korean beef mixture. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Notes

For gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce.
Adjust red pepper flakes to taste for preferred heat level.
Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef for a leaner option.
Quinoa can be cooked in broth for extra flavor.
Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days.