Pork, beef & lamb· GF · DF

Thai Basil Beef

Name: Thai Basil Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 500g beef mince (10% fat); 250g green beans, 2cm lengths; 2 (320g) red peppers, diced; 1 (150g) onion, sliced; 6 cloves (30g) garlic; 6 (12g) bird's eye chillies; 30ml soy sauce; 30ml oyster sauce; 15ml fish sauce; 10g sugar; 30g Thai or regular basil; 15ml rapeseed oil; 100ml water

Pad krapow: fiery beef mince with garlic, bird's eye chillies, soy, oyster sauce and lots of basil.

makes 17 blocks, about 51p each

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batchjoy.com/recipes/thai-basil-beef/

Illustration of a bowl of Thai Basil Beef

Time: 25 min10 min prep · 15 min cook
Makes: 17 blocks
Cost per blockPer block: 51p
Calories per blockCalories: 67 kcal
Spice: 4 of 5

You’ll need

Batch size

blocks

500gbeef mince (10% fat)
250ggreen beans, 2cm lengths
2 (320g)red peppers, diced
1 (150g)onion, sliced
6 cloves (30g)garlic
6 (12g)bird's eye chillies
30mlsoy sauce
30mloyster sauce
15mlfish sauce
10gsugar
30gThai or regular basil
15mlrapeseed oil
100mlwater

Allergens: Fish, Molluscs, Soya. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.

Serve it

Jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg · Noodles · Lettuce cups

Method

Step 1: Pound or finely chop the garlic and chillies together.
Step 2: Heat the oil in a wok or large pan over a high heat and fry the garlic and chillies for 30 seconds.
Step 3: Add the mince and fry hard for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and crisp in places.
Step 4: Add the onion, peppers and green beans for 4 minutes, then the soy, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar and water. Bubble for 2 minutes.
Step 5: Off the heat, stir in the basil until wilted. Cool quickly and freeze in 70g blocks.

Milder: use two chillies, deseeded.

Nutrition (estimated)
	kcal	protein	carbs	fat	fibre	salt
Per block	67	7.1g	4.9g	2.4g	1.1g	0.56g
Per 3 blocks	201	21.3g	14.7g	7.2g	3.3g	1.68g

Cook’s notes

For a 3, use two chillies and remove the seeds.
Thai holy basil is traditional; ordinary basil still works.
Pork or chicken mince are common swaps.

Serve it

Jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg · Noodles · Lettuce cups.

Freeze, reheat and serve

Freeze: Cool it within two hours, portion it into 70g blocks in a silicone tray, then bag and label them. It keeps for 3 months.
Reheat: Microwave 3 blocks, covered, for 1 minute, stir, then heat for another 1 to 2 minutes until piping hot all the way through. Or warm them in a pan with a splash of water. Never refreeze thawed blocks.
A portion: 3 blocks (210g) make a dinner for one adult: about 201 kcal and 21.3g protein before rice, bread or potatoes.

Thai Basil Beef questions

Why fry the mince so hard?

A high heat browns the mince and crisps it in places, which gives the dish its savoury, slightly caramelised flavour. In a crowded pan it steams instead, so use your widest pan.

What can I use instead of green beans?

Sugar snap peas, sliced courgette or more peppers all work. Keep them crisp, as they soften on reheating.

What if I can't find bird's eye chillies?

Any small red chillies work, or dried chilli flakes fried with the garlic. Chillies vary a lot in strength, so add them gradually and taste.