Ingredients

• 1½ tbsp oil (vegetable, canola, peanut)
• 500g / 1 lb beef mince / ground beef (Note 1)
• 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
• 1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (adjust to your taste)
• 3 tbsp water

Firecracker sauce:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce , light or all-purpose (Note 2)
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar (Note 3)
• 4 tbsp sriracha sauce (Note 4)
• 4 tbsp brown sugar (tightly packed)

To serve (optional!):

• Rice, soba or vermicelli noodles
• 1 green onion , finely sliced
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• Diced cucumber, julienned carrot, finely sliced red radish
• Extra sriracha sauce , if you dare!

Instructions

• Sauce: Mix Firecracker sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• Cook beef: Heat oil in a large frypan over high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until you can no longer see raw meat (2½ minutes). Add garlic and chilli flakes and cook for 1 minute.
• Caramelise beef: Add Firecracker sauce ingredients, stir to coat the beef. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring only every minute or so initially, then more towards the end, until the sauce reduces and you can see the beef caramelising. Caramelise well for good flavour!
• Water: Add the water and cook for 1 minute (the water makes the beef saucier!)
• Serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds, green onion and a squirt of extra sriracha if you’re feeling brave! Add a pile of vegetables of choice on the side. Dive in!