Easy Tropical Pineapple Beef Bowls
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Who else loves a good grain bowl recipe?! Grain bowls are super simple and can be so versatile! Whether you are wanting to change up your meal prep routine this week or try out a new yummy recipe, this recipe is for you!
After one bite of this tropical pineapple beef bowl, you will be transported to warmer weather and salty breezy beaches. Sweet and tangy pineapple salsa, savory beef slices over a bed of white rice make a delicious meal that is light enough for a lunch but fancy enough for an impressive dinner.
Tropical Pineapple Beef Bowls
Ingredients:
Direction Snapshot:
- Make marinade + marinate beef.
- Cook rice as beef cooks on skillet.
- Make pineapple salsa.
- Assemble bowl.
How long should you marinate the beef?
The longer the better! But if you are on a time crunch, we recommend marinading for at least 1-2 hours. For a super strong flavor, marinade overnight or up to 24 hours!
How to pick the best pineapple...
Look for these things when picking a fresh pineapple at the store...
1. A yellow base. We recommend a good balance of green and yellow. When the pineapple is mostly yellow and brown, that means it is very ripe and super sweet.
2. Make sure the pineapple is heavy! This means theres a lot of moisture!
3. Smell the bottom of the pineapple! If it has a distinct pineapple taste, it's a good one!
Can I use a different cut of beef?
Of course!! If you are using a larger cut of beef, like flank steaks or round steaks.
We don't recommend ground beef. The main reason is because marinades are meant to break down the meat proteins and tenderize the meat. And when meat is ground, the meat proteins are broken down in the processing. Stick with larger cuts like bottom rounds or flank steaks.
Tropical Pineapple Beef Bowls
Sweet and tangy pineapple salsa, savory beef slices over a bed of white rice.
Ingredients
1 lb thinly sliced beef
1 cup white rice
Beef Marinade
1 cup pineapple juice
1/3 c soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
4 tbsp rice vinegar
1 piece fresh ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
Pineapple Salsa
2 cups fresh pineapple, chopped
2 tomatillos, finely chopped
1/4 purple onion, chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 limes
1 jalepeño seeded (option: leave a couple extra seeds in for heat)
Instructions
1. Mix together marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Place beef slices in marinade and toss to coat all the pieces. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, let it marinade for at least 1 hour in the fridge. You can marinate overnight or up to 24 hours stronger flavor.
2. In a skillet over medium high heat, place several marinated beef slices to the heated skillet. Cook for several minutes on each side. Beef will be done when temp reaches 145°F. Transfer to a dish and repeat seps until all beef slices are cooked.
3. After all beef slices are cooked, add the rest of the marinade to the pan,let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens a bit. Remove from heat and add the beef back in and toss to coat all the pieces. The thickened marinade will become a glaze for the beef.
4. Make rice according to package. While rice is cooking, make pineapple salsa.
5. Chop all salsa ingredients and but in medium bowl. Squeeze juice of two limes, sprinkle salt for flavor and toss until combined.
6. Once rice is cooked, assemble bowls with a scoop of rice, several meat slices and pineapple salsa. Top with green onions, sesame seeds and enjoy.
