Description
Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir-Fry with olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese. Quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454g) lean ground beef (90% lean recommended)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large red onion, thinly sliced (about 1 cup/160g)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon/9g)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips (about 1 cup/150g)
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips (about 1 cup/150g)
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons (about 2 cups/240g)
- 1/2 cup (75g) kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1 tablespoon (3g) dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon (1g) dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup (75g) crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat, reserving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pan.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the sliced red onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds – watch carefully as garlic burns quickly! The aroma will tell you when it’s perfectly toasted.
- Step 3: Add the red and yellow bell peppers to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften but still maintain some crispness. Toss in the zucchini half-moons and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Your kitchen should now be filled with irresistible Mediterranean aromas!
- Step 4: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Sprinkle with dried oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine all ingredients and allow the spices to bloom in the heat for about 1 minute. This step is crucial for developing those authentic Mediterranean flavors in your Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir-Fry.
- Step 5: Add the kalamata olives and lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to combine. Let everything simmer together for 2 minutes so the flavors can meld beautifully. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and crumbled feta cheese. Give it one gentle stir to incorporate these final ingredients without fully melting the feta. Serve your Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir-Fry immediately for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg