Spicy Korean Ground Beef Salad (Printable)
Flavor-packed Korean beef with fresh vegetables and sesame dressing
# What You Need:
→ For the Spicy Korean Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 - 2 tbsp avocado oil or neutral oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated (about 1 tbsp)
05 - 2 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
06 - 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
07 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
08 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
09 - 1 tbsp erythritol or preferred keto sweetener
10 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ For the Salad
12 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, spinach, or leaf lettuce)
13 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
14 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
15 - 1/2 cup carrots, julienned
16 - 4 green onions, sliced
17 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
→ For the Sesame Dressing
18 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
19 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
20 - 2 tsp tamari
21 - 1 tsp keto sweetener
22 - 1 tsp fresh lime juice
23 - 1/2 tsp garlic, finely minced
24 - Pinch of salt
→ Garnishes
25 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
26 - 1 small red chili, thinly sliced
27 - Extra cilantro or green onions
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5–6 minutes.
02 - Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly.
03 - Stir in tamari, gochujang, rice vinegar, sesame oil, erythritol, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef. Remove from heat.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, tamari, keto sweetener, lime juice, minced garlic, and salt until smooth and emulsified.
05 - Divide mixed greens, shredded cabbage, sliced cucumber, julienned carrots, green onions, and cilantro among 4 bowls or plates.
06 - Spoon hot Korean beef evenly over the salads. Drizzle with sesame dressing and garnish with toasted sesame seeds, sliced chili, and extra herbs. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get all those restaurant-quality Korean flavors in just 30 minutes with ingredients you can actually find
- The hot spicy beef against crisp cool vegetables creates this perfect contrast that keeps every bite interesting
02 -
- Do not skip letting the sauce thicken in the pan, that reduction is what makes the beef taste so cohesive and rich
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes beforehand, the difference in flavor is absolutely worth the extra step
03 -
- If you cannot find sugar-free gochujang, mix sriracha with a teaspoon of tomato paste for similar flavor complexity
- Prep all your vegetables while the beef cooks so everything comes together quickly