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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
