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Caramelized Shallot Beef Ramen Noodles

A quick and flavorful dish featuring tender beef and caramelized shallots, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the beef mixture
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 pieces shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 pound ground beef, chicken, or pork
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2-3 tablespoons chili paste (sambal oelek)
For the noodles and toppings
  • 3 squares brown rice ramen noodles
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 cup fresh basil or cilantro, roughly torn
  • 1/4 cup toasted peanuts or sesame seeds
  • Carrots, green onions, and limes, for serving

Method
 

Cooking the Beef
  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. When the oil shimmers, add the shallots and cook until they begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the beef, garlic, ginger, cinnamon (if using), and black pepper. Brown the beef for about 5 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
  4. Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce (if using), honey, and chili paste. Bring this mix to a boil over medium-high heat and let it cook until the sauce coats the beef, about 5-8 minutes.
Cooking the Noodles
  1. While the beef is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  2. Cook the ramen noodles following the package instructions until they are al dente.
  3. Before you drain the noodles, scoop out about 1/2 cup of this cooking water, then drain.
Combining and Serving
  1. Add the cooked noodles and 1/4 cup of the reserved water to the beef.
  2. Toss in the butter and basil, mixing everything together well.
  3. Serve the noodles on plates and top with peanuts (or sesame seeds), carrots, green onions, and fresh lime.

Notes

Make sure to slice the shallots thinly for even caramelization. Adjust the level of chili paste to suit your spice preference. Add more vegetables for additional nutrition and color.