Thai Beef With Cabbage

I must be craving iron or something, because when I flipped across this beefy recipe out of the newest Cooking Light, my stomach joined forces with my heart and sucker punched me in the face.

Oh, and guess what! Yesterday, for the first time ever in my existing life existence, I purchased my very first iphone! I SHO’ DEED.

And guess what else! I’m on Instagram and in less than 24 hours, I’ve seen a beautiful and slightly terrifying glimpse at what my future holds for me. Come find me and say hey!

What other apps do I NEED? What are you obsessed with? What do I need to be obsessed with?

Other than 538 helpings of this beefy cabbage-y goodness in my belly. WHAT? I had to celebrate my iphone and the fact that I’m now a part of today’s society and culture, dudes.

(I realize that beef and iphones have nothing to do with this each other, but that is the course of my brain today. You’re not surprised at all, are you?)

Thai Beef and Cabbage:
(from Cooking Light)

What it took for 4:

* 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 shallots, thinly sliced
* pinch of salt
* 1 Tbs. ground turmeric
* 1 Tbs. cayenne pepper
* 1 pound ground sirloin
* 4 cups shredded cabbage (about half a head)
* 2 roma tomatoes, quartered
* 1/2 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the shallots and saute until they start to soften, 3 minutes. Add the turmeric, cayenne pepper and a pinch of salt. Bloom the spices for 1 minute.

Add the beef and cook until browned, 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and tomatoes, and toss to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook 10 minutes.

Toss in the peanuts, stir to combine, throw that lid back on and cook 10 more minutes, letting the cabbage wilt. Taste and add a little more salt if needed.

Serve her up and garnish with parsley if desired!

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51 Responses to Thai Beef With Cabbage

  1. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com November 2, 2011 at 4:06 pm #
    That looks so delicious. In so many levels... Not a good time to salivate. I am so hungry :D
  2. Kathryn November 2, 2011 at 4:11 pm #
    Man, I used to eat a dish just like this in a Thai restaurant I used to frequent. I haven't thought about it for ages but it looks so good!
  3. Sydney November 2, 2011 at 4:13 pm #
    While this looks delicious and both my boyfriend and I would eat this with smiles on our faces, my face would quickly turn to one of horror. Cabbage (among many things) gives him HORRIBLE gas! Like even-though-it's-negative-a-billion-degrees-outside-please-open-all-the-windows-all-the-way kinda bad gas. So I will keep this in my mind for time when he is not around to make it!
    • Anonymous April 22, 2015 at 7:15 pm #
      Take two gas-x before eating.
  4. Katie November 2, 2011 at 4:54 pm #
    I still don't have an iphone. My phone is pink and looks like a barbie calculator. It functions just about as well as one, too. This looks so hearty and delicious. I want it now.
    • Susy Lowe June 24, 2021 at 9:36 pm #
      Thank you for the delicious recipe. I would only make a note about the amount of cayenne pepper. I thought a Tablespoon sounded like way too much so I added less than half a tablespoon. It was still so hot that I had to add a side of plain yogurt and some lime to tame it. My husband loved it but said make it less spicy by half. I would make this again and just reduce the heat so I can enjoy the flavors.
    • Susy Lowe June 24, 2021 at 9:37 pm #
      Thank you for the delicious recipe. I would only make a note about the amount of cayenne pepper. I thought a Tablespoon sounded like way too much so I added less than half a tablespoon. It was still so hot that I had to add a side of plain yogurt and some lime to tame it. My husband loved it but said make it less spicy by half. I would make this again and just reduce the heat so I can enjoy the flavors.
  5. Kathleen November 2, 2011 at 5:22 pm #
    Looks wonderful! For apps - Pulse - takes your favorite websites and transforms them into a colorful and interactive mosaic. Here's the link:http://www.pulse.me/ I use a lot of photo apps: Luminace - good editing of photos Picture Show and Lo-mob - edit photos already taken with cool filters like Instagram but you can store the photo where you want. Also like Hipstamatic. PSExpress - Photoshop Express. It's just OK, Liminance has more options. Autostitch - stitches multiple photo's together. GenusScan - it turns your phone into a PDF creator. Handy if you need to fax a document. Take a photo of the document with your phone and it will convert it to a PDF and you can email it. Enjoy! Kathleen
    • Bev Weidner November 2, 2011 at 7:37 pm #
      Thaaaank you for the suggestions, Kathleen!
    • Susy Lowe June 25, 2021 at 8:02 pm #
      I think the issue with the cayenne is that if you have old cayenne it will lose it’s potency. So, if you have fresher cayenne it is going to be a lot hotter than the old stuff sitting in your pantry for a few years. You can always make a dish hotter after the fact but you can’t make it less hot. Opt for a bit less and add more later if you need it.
  6. Heather E. November 2, 2011 at 5:46 pm #
    Oh, I LOVE cabbage like this! I'll make this recipe soon. Also, Aaron and I are hopping on the iphone bandwagon soon. I really only want one for the instagram :)
  7. Jessica November 2, 2011 at 6:26 pm #
    I NEED this in my life. YUM!
  8. jenna November 2, 2011 at 6:48 pm #
    when i read the title i thought for sure the recipe list would be a mile long....i love LOVE the simple ingredients and how absolutely delicious this looks!
  9. Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray November 2, 2011 at 6:53 pm #
    This looks so delicious!
  10. Lindsay @ Schnoodle Soup November 2, 2011 at 6:55 pm #
    Hi, Bev! I've been "stalking" you on Tablespoon for quite some time, so thought I'd pop over and say hello! Looks fabulous. My iron intake is awful, so maybe this would help!
    • Bev Weidner November 2, 2011 at 6:56 pm #
      Hey, Lindsay! So glad you popped over to say hello! It's so nice to meet you!
  11. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga November 2, 2011 at 7:18 pm #
    I don't even eat beef...but I'd love to have the veggie version of this...or just that awesome looking bowl of peanuts. Cute blue bowl!
  12. Kara November 2, 2011 at 8:18 pm #
    Totally going to try this! I just got an e-mail today that my iphone 4s shipped. For my ipad I love fruit link and drop 7. So addicting.
  13. Anna November 2, 2011 at 8:43 pm #
    Yum. I love Cooking Light because no matter what I make from it I feel like it must be healthy...right?? This looks delicious.
  14. Nutmeg Nanny November 3, 2011 at 1:21 am #
    I'm counting down the days till I can get an iphone...December 1st! When I do I'm going to be all over instagram!!! This dish looks amazing too. Perfect for a quick dinner. Plus it has cabbage, which a favorite of mine :)
  15. Laurie @SimplyScratch November 3, 2011 at 3:27 am #
    Bev this is the shizzy! It looks healthy and not so healthy all at the same time... totally dig it.
  16. Rebecca ~ Sweet Baby Yams November 3, 2011 at 5:00 am #
    I can't believe this is so easy to make. Thanks for making my life easier!
  17. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective November 3, 2011 at 2:29 pm #
    Uh... wasn't I supposed to come over for dinner last night??? That's alright, I'll take the left overs. ;)
  18. Winnie November 4, 2011 at 1:20 pm #
    My fav kind of dish- veggies, protein and lots of spice...I LOVE the photo of the shallots!!!
  19. susan November 5, 2011 at 4:00 am #
    this is my kind of dish. I cannot wait to make this!
  20. Judie November 6, 2011 at 12:58 pm #
    I made this yesterday, and I have to give this recipe a great review. It is easy to make, no crazy ingredients, and it is delicious! SO great to find a new recipe for cabbage. :)
    • Bev Weidner November 6, 2011 at 1:43 pm #
      Hey Judie, so glad to hear you liked the cabbage! I was surprised too at how easy and G-O-O-D it is. Thanks for letting me know!
  21. Seattle Black Cat November 18, 2011 at 5:18 am #
    Hi Bev! This was an amazing recipe! I just loved it. I didn't have any peanuts on hand, but I used about a half cup of extra crunchy peanut butter! It worked great and the peanuts were already chopped. Thanks for posting this!
  22. EG December 16, 2011 at 1:02 am #
    How spicy is it with 1 T of cayenne? I don't fear the heat (too much) but the two little people in my house do!
    • Bev Weidner December 16, 2011 at 1:33 pm #
      It's pretty hot! I'd say for your little ones, either omit it all together, or just a teensy sprinkling. Let me know how it turns out!
  23. Jessa January 15, 2012 at 11:27 am #
    Hi Bev! This recipe is fantastic. I've already made it 3 times and have it permanently installed in my arsenal of go-to recipes to make when I want something simple and delicious. For those who are thinking of making it - let me tell you that this is such an easy dish to make. It makes a lot and it gets better the longer it sits in the fridge. Cabbage is healthy, so this will make you feel good about your choices in life. ;) I'm looking forward to trying to make more recipes from your blog. Love and keep it up! J
    • Bev Weidner January 15, 2012 at 2:50 pm #
      Jessa, thanks so much for the comment! I'm so glad you like the beefy cabbage business. I LOVE it too. I need to make it again soon. Thanks again for reaching out!
  24. Kristina November 21, 2012 at 10:20 am #
    I cooked this recipe when I saw it in the Cooking Light magazine and loved it. I lost the recipe and googled the recipe and came across your website. I made it again but the seasoning was off! I then googled around a bit and saw you changed the seasoning amounts. I have to say the original is way better. Your blog looks very beautiful and Im gonna give the pork polenta a shot tonight~
  25. Hermosekshul October 11, 2013 at 4:13 am #
    I made this for my girlfriend, but I substituted beets for everything (had lots of canned beets laying around n broke lol) she said she really liked it but while I was taking a nap she burned my car. Later while she was in the shower, I shot her with my crossbow. Super easy. Would make again!
  26. Bethany September 18, 2014 at 4:24 am #
    Made this tonight all the way down under in New Zealand. Very tasty and simple but the amount of cayenne was way too much for me...and even my boyfriend had a hard time with it and he is a hot sauce fiend! We had to rinse it all with cold water to take some of the heat off. Ended up adding vermicelli green bean noodles and some garlic as well. Will definitely make again...but perhaps with not so much cayenne.
  27. Heather October 28, 2014 at 2:10 pm #
    Going to be making this tonight! I'm over making meat sauce for pasta which is what I usually do when I get a good deal on ground beef. Looking forward to trying something new.
  28. Julie Bazin November 3, 2014 at 3:43 pm #
    I'm thinking a splash or two of soy sauce would work well with this, but I've never mixed soy sauce and Tumeric.
  29. Lacey May 26, 2015 at 5:14 pm #
    The opening sentence of this recipe legit made me laugh out loud.
  30. Krista April 19, 2016 at 8:17 am #
    Delish! I made this last night, but I cut way back on the seasonings, because I knew it would be too hot for me. I used 1 tsp cayenne and 1/2 Tbsp. turmeric. I added sliced mushrooms sautéed with sweet onion. I didn't have shallots. I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. My husband and I both loved it. It was still a little bit hot for me, but I liked it so much I ate two helpings! Thanks for the yummy dinner idea.
  31. Kristie April 26, 2016 at 9:47 pm #
    I pinned this recipe awhile ago but just made it tonight. It was yummy!!!! My first time cooking with turmeric and this much cayenne! I was a little worried it would be too spicy but we loved it!!! Thanks for posting and I look forward to checking out your other recipes. Blessings :-)
  32. Liz May 20, 2016 at 6:00 pm #
    This was awful! I couldn't eat it - the spices were so overpowering at the suggested amount. Afterward I looked at the original cooking light recipe and the spice amount looks much more palatable. I had to throw it out as it was. I'm sure it would be better with the spices toned down. Love your blog, though!
  33. Theresa June 7, 2016 at 6:57 pm #
    Way to spicy! I should have read some of the comments. Added a little light sour cream to help with the heat which I kind of liked. If there is a next time only a pinch of cayenne will work for our family.
  34. Lise Valenzuela August 17, 2016 at 7:07 pm #
    Just made this tonight! It is HOT! Might tone down the cayenne next time.
  35. Julie July 26, 2017 at 1:13 pm #
    Try this with a can of diced tomatoes instead of the cut up tomato and replace spices with caraway seed.
  36. Cindy January 29, 2018 at 12:51 pm #
    My family loves this dish. I made a couple modifications, using 1/2 the cayenne, ground turkey and a can of diced tomatoes. FANTASTIC!! We also top with some sweet chili sauce!
  37. Janice Nussear May 22, 2019 at 5:40 pm #
    I've been making this for a couple of years now! It is delish. I cut back on the cayenne pepper, but otherwise I follow the recipe. I know it by heart! <3
    • Bev Weidner May 22, 2019 at 5:48 pm #
      Well that makes my day to hear! Thank you!
  38. Mike August 22, 2023 at 2:46 pm #
    This is a go to recipe for me. Totally delicious if you don’t over spice it. With or without the peanuts. I also substituted olive oil with sesame oil and it makes it even better in my view.

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  1. Menu Plan 11-12 « Frugal Family Table - November 12, 2011 [...] - Thai Beef Cabbage [...]
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  3. Winter Storm, Food and Play-Do | Hectic Momthletic - January 25, 2016 […] had everything I needed for this Thai cabbage and beef dish.  I have been craving Thai food lately so though, why not?  It turned out pretty […]

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