Thai Basil Beef Rolls Recipe

Introduction

These Thai Basil Beef Rolls offer a vibrant and flavorful twist on traditional wraps, combining aromatic herbs with savory, caramelized beef. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a party appetizer, they bring a refreshing balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy notes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken/turkey)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp Thai chili sauce
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 8 small flour tortillas or rice paper
• 2 Persian cucumbers, julienned
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 cup Thai basil (or Italian basil)
• 3 green onions, chopped
• ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp chili paste
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 clove garlic, grated

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, Thai chili sauce, toasted sesame oil, and Chinese 5-spice powder to create the sauce mixture.
2. Step 2: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in the prepared sauce mixture and continue cooking until the beef is glazed and slightly caramelized, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Step 4: Warm the flour tortillas or soften the rice paper according to package instructions to make them pliable for rolling.
5. Step 5: Assemble the rolls by evenly distributing the beef, fresh herbs (cilantro and basil), julienned cucumber, chopped green onions, and roasted peanuts on each tortilla or rice paper. Wrap tightly to secure the filling.
6. Step 6: In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, ketchup, chili paste, lime zest, lime juice, rice vinegar, tamari, grated ginger, and grated garlic to make an optional dipping sauce. Serve the rolls warm alongside the sauce.

Tips & Variations

• Use ground chicken or turkey as a leaner alternative to beef, adjusting cooking time as needed.
• For extra crunch, add shredded carrots or chopped bell peppers to the filling.
• Swap rice paper for lettuce leaves to make these rolls low-carb and gluten-free.
• Adjust the chili sauce and chili paste quantities to control the heat level according to your taste.

Storage

Store leftover beef mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the tortillas or rice paper separate to prevent sogginess. Assemble fresh rolls just before serving. Reheat the beef gently in a skillet or microwave before using. The dipping sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these rolls vegetarian?

Yes, you can substitute the ground beef with crumbled tofu or cooked lentils seasoned similarly to maintain the flavor profile.

How do I keep the rice paper from tearing?

Soften rice paper by briefly soaking it in warm water until pliable but not overly soggy. Use it immediately to wrap the fillings to avoid tearing.

Thai Basil Beef Rolls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 106 reviews

• Author: Lila
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

These Thai Basil Beef Rolls are a flavorful and fresh appetizer or light meal featuring ground beef seasoned with aromatic spices and herbs, wrapped in soft tortillas or rice paper, and served with a tangy, spicy dipping sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, they blend savory, spicy, and fresh flavors with crunchy textures from peanuts and cucumbers for a satisfying bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Beef Filling

• 1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken/turkey)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp Thai chili sauce
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil

Wrap & Vegetables

• 8 small flour tortillas or rice paper
• 2 Persian cucumbers, julienned
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 cup Thai basil (or Italian basil)
• 3 green onions, chopped
• ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped

Dipping Sauce

• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp chili paste
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 clove garlic, grated

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Instructions

1. Prepare Sauce Mix: In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Thai chili sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder until well combined. This will be used to glaze the beef.
2. Cook Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it begins to brown. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for an additional 2 minutes to infuse the beef with flavor.
3. Glaze the Beef: Stir the prepared sauce mixture into the beef. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the beef is fully coated, glazed, and slightly caramelized, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Warm the Wraps: Warm the flour tortillas briefly in a dry skillet or microwave to make them pliable, or if using rice paper, soften them according to package instructions by soaking in warm water until flexible.
5. Assemble Rolls: Lay out one tortilla or rice paper sheet. Place a generous spoonful of the glazed beef onto it, then top with fresh herbs (cilantro and Thai basil), julienned cucumbers, chopped green onions, and roasted peanuts. Wrap tightly to hold the filling inside.
6. Prepare Dipping Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, ketchup, chili paste, lime zest, lime juice, rice vinegar, tamari, grated ginger, and grated garlic until smooth. Serve this dipping sauce on the side with the beef rolls.
7. Serve: Enjoy the rolls warm with the dipping sauce for a fresh, savory, and spicy bite.

Notes

• You can substitute ground chicken or turkey for beef for a leaner option.
• If unavailable, Italian basil can replace Thai basil but will alter the flavor slightly.
• Rice paper wraps provide a lighter, gluten-free alternative to flour tortillas.
• Adjust chili sauce and chili paste amounts to taste for desired spice level.
• To save time, prepare the dipping sauce ahead and refrigerate.
• Roasted and chopped peanuts add crunch and texture—do not skip for best results.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Thai

Keywords: Thai basil beef rolls, Asian beef wraps, ground beef appetizer, Thai inspired recipe, fresh herb wraps, easy beef rolls, spicy beef appetizer