Since I was a kid, ground beef dishes were among my favorites. As I grew older, went to college, and had the chance/obligation to cook for myself more often in the small kitchenette in the basement of my dormitory, I would gravitate towards cooking with ground beef. Growing up, it was savory ground beef with tofu, and in college I created a saucier, sweet version with a complex array of spices and flavors, all in “just-right” amounts.

For this recipe, I was craving something comforting with some heat from spices so I modified a recipe and put this together in less than 30 minutes.  Here’s what I did.

What you need:

• a pretty bowl 🙂
• 1 lb 96% lean, 4% fat ground beef (available at Trader Joe’s)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like it)
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five spice
• Jasmine rice

• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 3  tablespoons Many Clove Garlic Cooking and Simmer Sauce in a jar  (available at Trader Joe’s)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped

1. Get some jasmine rice cooking if you would like to have this over rice.
2. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium heat.
3. Add crushed garlic and sesame oil into the pan and stir around.
4. Add chopped onions and cover to steam the onions with the garlic and sesame flavors
5. Add in the ground beef and brown, uncovered. Then put the lid on for about 8-10 minutes
6. Add the sugar and soy sauce, then add the spices
7. cover and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

This smells and tastes absolutely delicious. I love the sweetness combined with the onions and the heat from the red pepper flakes. Another serving recommendation would be to throw in some green beans in the last 10 minutes of cooking – they will steam and be flavored by the homemade sauce beautifully. I hope you try it out! It’s delicious.