Gochujang Beef Lettuce Wrap Bowls
Sweet-spicy gochujang beef over rice with crunchy lettuce and cucumbers, a fast weeknight bowl.
Prep: 10 · Cook: 18 · Total: 28 · Serves: 4 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.8/5 (141 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
A weeknight version of spicy Korean-style beef bowls, built for speed and crunch.
Story
This bowl is straight diner-meets-night-market energy. You hit the skillet with beef, then slide in that gochujang sauce and suddenly it is glossy, sweet, spicy, and acting like you planned ahead. The lettuce wraps are the crunchy wildcard, scoop it, smash it, repeat. If your crew likes heat, stack it up. If not, keep it chill and let everyone sauce their own.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 tbsp gochujang
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 cup sliced cucumbers
- 8 butter lettuce leaves
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook the rice: bring rice and water to a boil, cover, reduce to low, and cook 12 minutes. Rest 5 minutes off heat.
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up until no pink remains.
- Stir in garlic and ginger and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Pour into the skillet.
- Simmer 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce coats the beef. Taste and add a teaspoon of water if it is too thick.
- Build bowls with rice, saucy beef, cucumbers, and lettuce leaves on the side for scooping. Finish with sesame seeds.
Chef Tips
- If gochujang is new to you, start with 1 tablespoon and add more after you taste.
- Use bagged microwave rice if you want this even faster.
- A squeeze of lime on top is a sleeper move, it brightens everything.
- Leftovers make a great lunch bowl, keep cucumbers separate until serving.
Cook's Notes
- **Rice:** Start the rice first so the beef can be done while it steams.
- **Sauce:** Whisk the sauce in a bowl so it hits the pan evenly.
- **Crunch:** Serve with lettuce and cucumbers so the bowl has bite.