Description
Thai Basil Beef Rolls are a fresh and flavorful appetizer featuring savory ground beef seasoned with garlic, soy, fish sauce, lime, and chili flakes, combined with aromatic Thai basil and crisp vegetables, all wrapped in delicate rice paper with lettuce for crunch. These light, aromatic rolls make a perfect healthy snack or starter with a tangy, spicy dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves, chopped
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 carrot or bell pepper, julienned
- ¼ cup fresh mint or cilantro
Assembly
- 8 rice paper wrappers
- 8 small lettuce leaves
Dipping Sauce (optional)
- Sweet chili sauce or fish sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Cook the beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with minced garlic until the meat is fully browned and no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks for even texture.
- Add seasonings: Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes. Mix thoroughly and cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Add Thai basil: Turn off the heat and fold in the chopped Thai basil leaves to preserve their bright flavor and aroma.
- Prepare vegetables and herbs: While the beef mixture cools slightly, julienne the carrot or bell pepper and chop fresh mint or cilantro to use in the rolls.
- Soften rice paper wrappers: Dip each rice paper wrapper briefly in warm water until soft and pliable, then lay flat on a clean surface, ready for filling.
- Assemble the rolls: Place a small lettuce leaf on the lower third of the rice paper wrapper. Add a spoonful of the beef mixture followed by the julienned vegetables and herbs on top.
- Roll the wraps: Fold in the sides of the rice paper, then roll tightly from the bottom up, similar to wrapping a burrito, to enclose all the fillings securely.
- Serve: Arrange the beef rolls on a serving plate and provide sweet chili sauce or fish sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Use warm water to quickly soften the rice paper wrappers without tearing.
- Adjust chili flakes to taste for spiciness level.
- Substitute ground chicken or turkey for a lighter protein option.
- Rice paper can dry out quickly; keep damp while assembling.
- Serve immediately for freshest texture, or cover tightly with a damp cloth if storing briefly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Pan-frying and rolling
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Thai basil beef rolls, rice paper rolls, Thai appetizer, ground beef rolls, fresh spring rolls, Asian meat rolls
