Description
These Thai Basil Beef Rolls are a fresh and flavorful appetizer featuring savory stir-fried ground beef infused with aromatic basil, garlic, and chilies, wrapped in delicate rice paper with crisp cucumber, carrots, and cilantro, drizzled with lime juice and hoisin sauce for a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 small red chilies, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
Rolls
- 8 rice paper wrappers
- 1/2 cucumber, julienned
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
Instructions
- Heat the skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil to prepare for cooking the aromatics and beef.
- Sauté garlic and chilies: Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and sliced red chilies to the pan and stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Cook ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until fully browned and cooked through.
- Add sauces and sugar: Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar; continue cooking for 2-3 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef evenly.
- Add basil: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the fresh basil leaves, letting the residual heat wilt the basil gently.
- Prepare rice paper wrappers: Let the beef mixture cool slightly. Then fill a shallow dish with warm water and dip one rice paper wrapper in for 5-10 seconds until softened. Lay it flat on a clean, damp kitchen towel.
- Assemble rolls: Place a portion of the beef mixture in the center of each softened rice paper, leaving space on the sides. Top with julienned cucumber, shredded carrots, and fresh cilantro leaves. Drizzle lime juice and hoisin sauce over the fillings.
- Roll tightly: Fold in the sides of the rice paper and roll up tightly to enclose the filling securely.
- Repeat and serve: Repeat the softening and filling process with remaining wrappers and beef mixture. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later enjoyment.
Notes
- For spicier rolls, add more sliced red chilies or include a chili dipping sauce.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with crumbled tofu or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Rice paper wrappers can dry out quickly; keep them covered with a damp towel while assembling.
- These rolls are best consumed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- To make rolling easier, do not overfill the rice wrappers.
