Description
A flavorful and easy Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles recipe featuring tender udon noodles tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, and ginger. Perfect for a quick 30-minute weeknight meal that serves 4.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Noodles
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 10 ounces udon noodles
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste or grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Thickening Mixture
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: Cook 10 ounces of udon noodles according to the package directions until tender. Drain and set aside to be combined later.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of lean ground beef and cook until mostly browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for about one minute until fragrant. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Prepare Sauce: While the beef is cooking, whisk together ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup beef broth, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 2 teaspoons ginger paste, and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using) in a bowl to create the savory sauce.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the browned ground beef in the skillet and cook together, allowing the flavors to meld and finish cooking the beef in the sauce.
- Add Noodles: Add the cooked udon noodles to the skillet with the beef and sauce. Toss well to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce and beef mixture.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and ¼ cup water until smooth. Pour this mixture over the skillet and continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency, coating the beef and noodles.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and serve the Mongolian ground beef and noodles immediately while warm and flavorful.
Notes
- Udon noodles can be substituted with other thick wheat noodles if unavailable.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level or omit if you want a milder dish.
- Make sure to drain excess fat after browning the beef to keep the dish from being greasy.
- The sauce thickens quickly once the cornstarch mixture is added; stir continuously to avoid lumps.
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free noodles.
