Hearty Beef Lunch Bowl (Printable)
Tender beef and fresh veggies served over jasmine rice for a satisfying midday meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 14 oz beef sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
02 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
03 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
04 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Rice
05 - 1½ cups jasmine or basmati rice
06 - 2½ cups water
07 - ½ tsp salt
→ Vegetables
08 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
09 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
10 - 3.5 oz sugar snap peas, trimmed
11 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
12 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ Sauce
13 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
14 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
15 - 1 tbsp honey
16 - 1 tsp sesame oil
17 - 1 garlic clove, minced
18 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
19 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
→ Garnish
20 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
21 - Fresh coriander leaves (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
02 - Toss beef slices with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and cornstarch to coat evenly.
03 - Whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add beef in a single layer and sear for 2 to 3 minutes until browned but tender. Remove from pan and set aside.
05 - In the same pan, add carrots, bell pepper, and sugar snap peas. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until crisp-tender.
06 - Return beef to the pan, add the prepared sauce, and toss for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through and coated.
07 - Fluff rice and divide among four bowls. Top each with beef and vegetable mixture.
08 - Top with cucumber slices, spring onions, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh coriander if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together faster than most takeout, which means you can actually make it on a busy weeknight without stress.
- The sauce is sweet and savory in equal measure, coating everything so perfectly that even plain rice tastes exciting.
- You're in complete control of what goes in your bowl, so it adapts to whatever vegetables you have or whatever you're craving that day.
02 -
- Thin-sliced beef cooks in seconds, which means the moment it browns, you need to stop cooking it or it becomes tough and stringy.
- The rice water ratio matters more than you think, so measure it properly and don't stir the rice while it's cooking, no matter how tempted you are.
- Raw vegetables like cucumber and spring onions are not optional garnishes, they're the textural and flavor balance that makes this bowl feel special instead of heavy.
03 -
- Don't skip the cornstarch on the beef because it creates a delicate crust that keeps the meat from sticking and makes it brown beautifully.
- The rice resting time is when you should prep your vegetables, so by the time the rice is done, your prep work is already finished and you can move fast.
- If you're meal prepping this for multiple days, keep the rice and beef separate from the raw vegetables until you're ready to eat, so everything stays fresh and textural.