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    Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi)

    Updated September 4, 2024 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    Five ingredients, a few minutes and a hot skillet, and you’ll be digging into a delicious soboro donburi, a gingery ground beef that reminds us that the best Japanese recipes are often the simplest.

    Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Danbury) with peas on a plate

    We’re Just Going to Say It. Japanese Home Food > Fancy Pants Restaurant Sushi.

    This gingery ground beef stir-fry recipe is Japanese in origin, and often served simply over white rice—that’s how we love to eat it—as a soboro donburi (donburi just means that something is served over steamed rice as a rice bowl). Here in the U.S., Japanese food is often thought of as the height of fussiness—pristine slices of raw fish, carefully placed on perfectly-cooked sushi rice, or quickly seared slices of wagyu that cost a gazillion dollars. But the thing is, Japanese home cooking is actually super approachable, and—here’s the big secret—we like it even better than super-fancy Japanese restaurant food. It’s mostly very, very simple, and at the heart of its simplicity is a deep comfort—in other words, it’s exactly the kind of food we’re hungry for these days. This meaty, savory, gingery ground beef stir-fry comes together in minutes, has just five ingredients, and is a sure-fire family-pleaser.

    ingredients laid out for soboro donburi ground beef, peas, ginger, brown sugar and soy sauce
    ground beef, olive oil and brown sugar in a cast iron skillet

    Soboro Donburi in Just 5 Ingredients

    We didn’t make any changes to traditional Japanese soboro beef recipe, it really is just as simple as five ingredients. Well, plus the rice the soboro beef is served over, which is what makes it soboro donburi (remember, that means rice bowl). The word “soboro” refers to the fact that we’re using ground beef, and to the crumbly texture of the finished dish.

    Here are the five ingredients you’ll need to make this gingery soboro beef with peas:

    • Ground beef. We used a typical 80/20 blend.
    • Soy sauce. Or, if you’re GF, it’s fine to use gluten-free tamaril
    • Brown sugar.
    • Fresh ginger.
    • Frozen peas.
    ground beef, peas and ginger in a cast iron skillet
    ground beef, peas and ginger cooked in a cast iron skillet

    How To Make Japanese Soboro Beef

    The crispy-crumbly texture and the meaty, savory flavors of this simple ground beef stir-fry are oh-so-lovable. Scooped over a pillowy bowl of steaming white rice, it’s a new (to us) kind of comfort food and we are ALL about it. Here’s how easy this gingery ground beef is to make:

    1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the ground beef, soy sauce, water and sugar and sauté until the beef is browned.
    3. Add the fresh ginger and frozen peas, and continue to cook until the peas are warmed through, and any liquid has mostly evaporated.
    4. Serve! Over warm, steamy bowls of rice. Soboro donburi is classically served with white rice, but brown rice would be fine, too.
    ground beef, peas and ginger in a cast iron skillet soboro donburi with a spoon
    sober donburi beef with peas and ginger on a plate

    Tools You’ll Need:

    Um, that’s it. This soboro beef recipe is just really, really easy. Come to think of it, this is sort of a genius recipe for times when you don’t even want to dirty a knife. Or for if you’ve just moved and can’t find any of your kitchen stuff—just break out a skillet and whip up soboro beef! No prob!

    More Ground Beef Recipes

    Got ground beef? GREAT! We’ve got ground beef recipes for you!

    Japanese ginger beef on a plate with peas over rice with a fork

    Do You Donburi?

    Snap a photo of your finished gingery ground beef donburi and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you share it with, and then tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can see your handiwork! Happy eating!

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    Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi) Recipe

    Updated September 4, 2024

    By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  5 min
    • Cook Time:  20 min
    • Calories:  301
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    Description

    Five ingredients, a few minutes and a hot skillet, and you’ll be digging into a delicious soboro donburi, a gingery ground beef that reminds us that the best Japanese recipes are often the simplest.

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound 90/10 ground beef
    • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce or tamari
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
    • 1 cup frozen peas
    • cooked rice, for serving (optional)

    Method

    1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, combine the beef, soy sauce, ¼ cup water, brown sugar and ginger. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes.

    2. Stir in the peas, then continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 more minutes.

    3. Serve over cooked rice, if using.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 301
    • Protein 21 g
    • Carbohydrates 14 g
    • Total Fat 22 g
    • Dietary Fiber 3 g
    • Cholesterol 0 mg
    • Sodium 728 mg
    • Total Sugars 7 g

    Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi)

    Questions & Reviews

    Rated 4.9 stars by 28 readers

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    • Paul

      When does the ginger get added - before or after the beef is browned - the general description says after the beef is browned, the detailed instructions say to add it before it is browned?

      We add it in while we are browning it in this recipe. Hope you enjoy Paul.

    • Aleksandr

      Since when is it "industry standard" to not include water in the ingredient list?

      I'm not sure what the industry standard is, but this is just how we learned to do it in the process of creating our cookbook. We continued on with it on the blog.

    • Marjorie

      I have ground ginger, not fresh. Can I Use it?

      Sure! Just start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more if you want it more gingery.

    • Beth

      Hi, I notice there is no water in the photo of ingredients and nothing mentioned in the recipe list...do I really need to add a 1/4 of water?

      Yes you do need the water. It is industry standard to not include water in the ingredient list. Sorry for any confusion Beth.

    • RONDA

      would this work with fresh broccoli instead of peas? My family and I do not like peas but the recipe sounds so wonderful otherwise.

      Sure!

    • Cathy

      Any thoughts on leaving out the sugar?

      Would probably be fine or you could substitute with a sugar alternative to still get the bit of sweetness.

    • Lynn

      I dont have any frozen peas would other frozen vegetables be ok

      Sure!

    • Rebekah

      It doesn’t say to drain the fat from the beef. Am I supposed to leave it in?

      If you are using 90% or higher lean beaf it's fine to leave the fat in. If you are using a higher fat content feel free to drain it. Hope you enjoy!

    • Pat

      I'm really looking forward to making this recipe, it sounds delicious. I've already printed it ready to make in a couple of days but even though I've read through it 3 or 4 times I cannot see how many servings it's supposed to make....even where the nutritional info says per serving. Could someone please help?

      1 lb of ground beef will make 4 servings, giving each person a 1/4 lb of meat.

    • judi

      I have no fresh ginger. Can I use powederd ginger?

      In this case, fresh ginger really makes the dish! Ground ginger probably wouldn't work very well.

    • DJ

      Just made this for my teen and myself. Very good and big thumbs up from the kiddo! Thank you!

      Thanks DJ, so glad you both enjoyed it!

    • Kristine

      This recipe is so delicious that it actually feels like a mistake that its so simple! I especially love that its pretty much a pantry recipe - esp if you keep ginger in the freezer ready to go. Weve made it a few times now and its going on the repeat list for busy weeknights!

      Thanks Kristine, we are so glad you loved it!

    • ormthered

      Just made it tonight, and it's great!

      May tweek a bit in future batches (and add a little mirin, scallion, garlic, a fried egg, chili crisp and--I know, blasphemous--a smidge of shredded coconut).

      Thanks! We are so glad you loved it! Add what you like, that's the fun of cooking right?

    • ErinCW

      I have a ton of ground beef because my dad gifted us 1/4 of a cow, so I am always looking out for different ways to use it. I need quick/easy meals on certain nights, and this fits the bill. This recipe is SO simple, and yet hearty & full of flavor. The only thing I do different is add in fresh garlic along with the ginger, because I just really like garlic. Also, sometimes I drizzle chili onion crunch on top for added flavor and spice.

      Wow, so nice of your dad what an amazing gift. And we are thrilled you love this recipe, thanks Erin!

    • TheDee

      Thanks a perfect weekday dinner dish! Especially for those days when I don't feel like being in the kitchen for an hour+. Basic ingredients that I typically have on hand, with the exception of the fresh ginger. The first time I made this, I used fresh because I happened to have it on hand, but I didn't have peas, so I sauteed some bok choy I had and served it along with the rice. I liked this dish so much that I bought a jar of minced ginger for this quick (emergency) meal. Just now I made it with the minced stuff and the peas and it's just as good as before but even easier!
      Thanks for the great, simple recipe.

      Thanks TheDee, so glad you loved it!

    • Daniel

      It's simple, and you can use any vegetable to change the appearance. I'm also going to use different rice—Spanish rice comes to mind—to see what flavors I can get.

      Thanks Daiel, we are so happy you loved it!

    • Emma

      I've been making this for myself twice a week for a few months now. It immediately became one of my favorite quick meals.

      This is so great to hear, we are thrilled you love it. Thanks Emma!

    • gina

      This version of Donburi is a favorite in our house- easy and delicious and an excellent way to serve ground beef. I do add fresh garlic and use a little more water. We call it Donburi, Be Happy.

      Thanks Gina, we are so glad you loved it!

    • Aimee

      This is a family favorite, even with my very picky 9 year old. My husband, older son, and I eat it with a scrambled egg and pickled ginger. So delicious!

      Thanks Aimee, we are so happy you and your family love it!

    • Emily

      This is a household staple! Quick, and convenient as I always have these ingredients on hand. I serve it with rice made in the instant pot, and top it with kewpie mayo, sriracha, and cilantro.

      Thanks Emily, we are so happy to hear that!