Description
A quick and flavorful savory Chinese-inspired ground beef and cabbage stir fry that comes together in just 25 minutes. This dish features tender ground beef, crisp cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and green onions, all coated in a rich soy-sesame sauce accented with fresh garlic and ginger. Perfect for weeknight dinners, it’s customizable with ingredient substitutions and offers a hearty, comforting meal packed with savory umami flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound Ground Beef (Can substitute with lean ground turkey or chicken.)
Vegetables
- 4 cups Cabbage (Substitute with kale or bok choy if desired.)
- 8 ounces Shiitake Mushrooms (Button mushrooms can be used as a substitute.)
- 4 stalks Green Onions (Regular onions can be used in a pinch.)
Sauce & Seasonings
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (Tamari is a great gluten-free alternative.)
- 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil (Use vegetable oil for allergy concerns.)
- 3 cloves Garlic (Fresh garlic is ideal, but garlic powder works too.)
- 1 tablespoon Ginger (Ground ginger can be substituted for fresh.)
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients: Finely mince the garlic and ginger. Thinly slice the cabbage and shiitake mushrooms. Chop the green onions into small pieces, separating the white and green parts for flavor layering.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the sesame oil. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks for about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté aromatics and vegetables: Push the beef to one side of the pan. Add the minced garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the green onions into the oil and stir-fry briefly until fragrant, around 30 seconds. Then add the sliced mushrooms and cabbage and stir-fry together until the cabbage starts to wilt and mushrooms soften, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add seasoning sauce: Pour the soy sauce over the beef and vegetables, stirring everything to combine well. Let it cook for another 2 minutes to meld flavors and allow the sauce to slightly reduce.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle the green parts of the green onions over the stir fry as a fresh garnish. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve immediately with steamed rice or noodles if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lean turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Try kale or bok choy instead of cabbage for a different texture and flavor.
- If shiitake mushrooms are unavailable, button mushrooms are a good substitute.
- Tamari sauce works well as a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce.
- Use vegetable oil instead of sesame oil if you have allergy concerns.
- Fresh garlic and ginger are best for authentic flavor, but powders can be used in a pinch.
