Thai Beef with Basil

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 red chiles, thinly sliced, seeded for less heat if desired, divided
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 cups fresh basil leaves, divided
  • 2 medium carrots, julienned or coarsely grated
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Steamed rice and lime wedges (for serving)

Preparation

Step 1

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and 1 chile and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up with a spoon and pressing down firmly to help brown, until cooked through and nicely crisped in spots, 8–10 minutes. Add broth and 2 cups basil and cook, stirring, until basil is wilted, about 2 minutes.
Toss carrots, scallions, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, and remaining chile, 1 cup basil leaves, and 1 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl.
Mix soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and remaining 3 Tbsp. lime juice in another small bowl until sugar dissolves.
Top rice with beef and slaw and drizzle with soy dressing. Serve lime wedges alongside for squeezing over.