Cooking: Sweet Chili Beef and Green Bean Bowls with Jasmine Rice, Crispy Onions and Cilantro

with Chef Robert Larios
Photography by Patricia M. Larios

Hey, Cooking with the Club Gang! Get ready to create a delicious and nutritious dinner in just 20 minutes. Brace yourself for a mouth watering combination of juicy ground beef, crisp green beans and heavenly sweet chili sauce. To top it off, we’ll add some fresh cilantro and crispy fried onions. This culinary masterpiece comes together on a bed of fluffy rice.

Get ready for a truly extraordinary experience of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. Introducing Sweet Chili Beef and Green Bean Bowls – a ballet of flavors where the hearty ground beef dances with vibrant green beans in a sweet chili sauce, all on a stage of fluffy jasmine rice. Prepare to be amazed by the joy of cooking!

¡Buen provecho!



Sweet Chili Beef and Green Bean Bowls with Jasmine Rice, Crispy Onions and Cilantro



Yields2 Servings

 1 cup jasmine rice
 6 oz green beans
 1 lime
 ¼ oz cilantro
 10 oz ground beef
 4 tbsp sweet soy glaze
 1 oz sweet Thai chili sauce
 ¼ cup crispy fried onions
 Salt and pepper, to taste
 1 tsp cooking oil
 ½ tsp sugar
 2 tbsp butter

1

Step 1:
Cook the Rice - Cook perfect rice every time with this simple recipe. Just combine the rice, 1-¼-cups water, and a pinch of salt in a pot. Bring it to a boil and then simmer until the rice is tender. In just 15 to 18 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked rice ready to serve. Keep it covered and off the heat until you’re ready to enjoy it.

2

Step 2:
Prep - Prepare the produce by washing and drying it. Trim the green beans if needed and cut them into 2-inch-long pieces. Quarter the lime and remove the cilantro leaves from the stems, then roughly chop the leaves.

3

Step 3:
Cook the Beef - Fire up a sizzling pan with a touch of oil and get ready to create a mouth watering masterpiece. Season the beef with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, then press it into the pan with a spatula to create a perfect, evenly cooked layer. Let it brown to perfection for 3 to 4 minutes without disturbing it. Now it’s time to break up the meat and cook it until it’s tender and cooked through, which should take about 2 to 4 minutes. Don’t worry about excess grease – simply pour it out of the pan with caution. Get ready to savor the delicious results of your cooking skills.

4

Step 4:
Cook the Green Beans - Microwave or steam green beans for a quick and tender side dish. In a microwave-safe bowl, add beans and a splash of water, cover with plastic wrap, and heat until tender. Don’t have a microwave? No worries! Steam them in a small pot with water until just tender. Don’t forget to drain any excess water.

5

Step 5:
Finish the Stir-Fry - Enhance your beef stir fry with these precise measurements: cooked green beans, chili sauce, 2½-tablespoons sweet soy glaze, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½-teaspoon sugar. In just 1-2 minutes, you’ll have a delectable beef mixture thoroughly coated with these flavorful ingredients. To add a tangy twist, squeeze in a hint of lime juice to suit your taste.

6

Step 6:
Finish and Serve - Enhance your rice dish with precise measurements: gently fluff the rice with a fork and incorporate 1 tablespoon butter. Enhance the flavor with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Divide the flavorful rice into individual bowls and layer it with stir-fry. For added crunch and freshness, generously sprinkle crispy fried onions and chopped cilantro. Complete the dish with a side of lime wedges for a burst of acidity.

Ingredients

 1 cup jasmine rice
 6 oz green beans
 1 lime
 ¼ oz cilantro
 10 oz ground beef
 4 tbsp sweet soy glaze
 1 oz sweet Thai chili sauce
 ¼ cup crispy fried onions
 Salt and pepper, to taste
 1 tsp cooking oil
 ½ tsp sugar
 2 tbsp butter

Directions

1

Step 1:
Cook the Rice - Cook perfect rice every time with this simple recipe. Just combine the rice, 1-¼-cups water, and a pinch of salt in a pot. Bring it to a boil and then simmer until the rice is tender. In just 15 to 18 minutes, you’ll have perfectly cooked rice ready to serve. Keep it covered and off the heat until you’re ready to enjoy it.

2

Step 2:
Prep - Prepare the produce by washing and drying it. Trim the green beans if needed and cut them into 2-inch-long pieces. Quarter the lime and remove the cilantro leaves from the stems, then roughly chop the leaves.

3

Step 3:
Cook the Beef - Fire up a sizzling pan with a touch of oil and get ready to create a mouth watering masterpiece. Season the beef with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, then press it into the pan with a spatula to create a perfect, evenly cooked layer. Let it brown to perfection for 3 to 4 minutes without disturbing it. Now it’s time to break up the meat and cook it until it’s tender and cooked through, which should take about 2 to 4 minutes. Don’t worry about excess grease – simply pour it out of the pan with caution. Get ready to savor the delicious results of your cooking skills.

4

Step 4:
Cook the Green Beans - Microwave or steam green beans for a quick and tender side dish. In a microwave-safe bowl, add beans and a splash of water, cover with plastic wrap, and heat until tender. Don’t have a microwave? No worries! Steam them in a small pot with water until just tender. Don’t forget to drain any excess water.

5

Step 5:
Finish the Stir-Fry - Enhance your beef stir fry with these precise measurements: cooked green beans, chili sauce, 2½-tablespoons sweet soy glaze, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½-teaspoon sugar. In just 1-2 minutes, you’ll have a delectable beef mixture thoroughly coated with these flavorful ingredients. To add a tangy twist, squeeze in a hint of lime juice to suit your taste.

6

Step 6:
Finish and Serve - Enhance your rice dish with precise measurements: gently fluff the rice with a fork and incorporate 1 tablespoon butter. Enhance the flavor with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Divide the flavorful rice into individual bowls and layer it with stir-fry. For added crunch and freshness, generously sprinkle crispy fried onions and chopped cilantro. Complete the dish with a side of lime wedges for a burst of acidity.

Sweet Chili Beef and Green Bean Bowls with Jasmine Rice, Crispy Onions and Cilantro

Food Lover’s Dictionary

Green bean: The green bean has a long, slender green pod with small seeds inside. The entire pod is edible. It is also called a string bean. Green beans are available year-round, with peak season from May to October. Green beans have a fair amount of vitamins A and C.

Bibliography: Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 2009, adapted from
The New Food Lover’s Companion, 2007, by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst.

Recipe: https://www.hellofresh.com/recipes/sweet-chili-beef-green-bean-bowls-
619cff9451c0b06e8d3d4ddf  • Accessed October 1, 2023.



Cooking Tidbit: Looking to switch up your sweetener? Try substituting sugar with honey (in a 1:1 ratio) or agave syrup (in a 1:1/2 ratio). These natural alternatives will add a delicious twist to your dishes.

Remember, if you’re using a rice variety other than jasmine rice, cooking times may vary. And for Instant Pot users, be sure to follow the specific instructions for best results.

With these simple tips, you’ll elevate your culinary creations and impress your taste buds. Don’t be afraid to experiment with these sweet substitutes and cooking variations!



Food Quote: “People who love to eat are always the best people.”

– Julia Child

 

 

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