WHOLE30 THAI BASIL BEEF (PAD KRAPOW)😍
Make your tastebuds sing with this easy weeknight Thai Basil Beef. Using just a few ingredients and taking less than 15 minutes to throw together, it proves that eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of time and ingredients to pack some major flavor.
I took inspiration from The Woks of Life’s Pad Krapow, and adjusted the ingredients to make them sugar-free and gluten-free (Whole30 approved) without sacrificing on taste. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Serves 2.
Ingredients:
For the Thai Basil Beef:
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12 oz flank steak
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2 tsps arrowroot (paleo version of cornstarch)
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½ red pepper, sliced thinly (see Note)
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1 small onion or half a large onion, sliced thinly
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tsp grated ginger
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1 birds eye chili (sliced thinly – optional for heat)
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1 tbsps avocado oil
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3 tbsps coconut aminos
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2 tsps fish sauce
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½ tsp sesame oil
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1 cup packed thai basil leaves (or regular basil)
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Salt and pepper to taste
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Sesame seeds and cilantro for topping (optional)
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Juice from ½ lime
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Lettuce cups for serving
*Note: This dish traditionally also has sliced bell peppers. I didn’t have any, so I left them out – you choose whether you would like to keep them in or out!
Directions:
For the Whole30 Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry:
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Slice the flank steak thinly against the grain and add to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix with the arrowroot.
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Heat a wok or nonstick skillet on high heat. Add in 1 tbsp avocado oil, and once the oil is shimmering, add half the beef in a single layer.
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Cook 80-90% of the way on the first side to help develop a crust, less than a minute. Once browned on one side, flip and cook a few seconds on the second side. Remove and set aside. Add in 1 tbsp avocado oil and repeat with the rest of the beef. Remove the beef and set aside.
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Add the sliced onions and bell peppers to the pan and cook on medium high heat for a few minutes until soft. Add garlic, ginger, and birds eye chilies and cook 30 seconds more.
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Add in the coconut aminos, fish sauce, and sesame oil and reduce the heat – you should see it immediately start to thicken up.
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Add the beef back in and stir to coat the beef in the sauce. Shut off heat and stir in the Thai basil and lime juice.
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Serve immediately in lettuce cups or on top of cauliflower rice. Enjoy!