These delicious bahn mi rice bowls were born out of a desperation for an easy meal to throw together at 4pm after a very long day. I had meat and cucumber and carrots and soy sauce and voilá….inspiration struck! DELICIOUS inspiration. These bahn mi bowls are just way too good for how simple they are to throw together. Spicy, umami and oh-so filling! A perfect easy option for any day of the week, plus leftovers are just as good if not better the next day.
Ingredients You Need to Make Bahn Mi Bowls
To make these incredibly savory bahn mi bowls you’ll need the following:
- Ground meat (pork is most common, but turkey also works)
- Minced garlic
- Soy sauce
- Arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- Powdered ginger root
- Mini cucumber
- Shredded carrots
- Cooked Jasmine rice
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Ingredients for Spicy Mayo:
- Mayo
- Sriracha or chili garlic sauce
How to Make Bahn Mi Bowls
I seriously love how quick these are to make up, and yet still offer out-of-this-world flavor.
Step 1: Prepare the Rice
To make bahm mi bowls, first prepare your rice according your preference. I like to cook mine in the Instant Pot for ease.
Step 2: Cook the Meat
Then you’ll need to heat up a large skillet and add your ground meat. While’s it cooking, prepare the veggies.
Step 3: Prepare the Veggies & Marinade
Dice up your cucumbers and carrots (unless you’re using pre-shredded carrots which is another easy cheat). In a small mason jar, combine the soy sauce, arrowroot starch or cornstarch, and the ginger root and shake to mix well.
Step 4: Put it All Together
Once the meat is cooked through, add your garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Then, reduce the heat to low and pour your marinade over the meat and stir until the meat is fully coated and sauce slightly thickens.
Step 5: Serve it Up!
Divide the rice into bowls, then top with meat, cucumber, and carrots, and drizzle with spicy mayo, adding sesame seeds for garnish if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy every single bite!
Variations for This Bahm Mi Rice Bowl Recipe
These bahn mi bowls are fabulous as-is, but you can try these varations to meet your dietary needs or personal tastes.
- Low-Carb – Use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- Whole 30 Compliant – Swap soy sauce for coconut aminos.
- Make it Spicy – Add diced jalapeños or chili garlic sauce.
Bahm mi bowls pair great with spicy or garlic edamame, and is sure to please a crowd and be the most delicious meal prep bowl you’ve ever had!
How to Store Leftover Bahn Mi Bowls
Leftovers will store for 3-5 days in the fridge. The meat can also be batch cooked and frozen for up to 3 months. Freezer meals are a great way to even further reduce the workload for your weeknights. To enjoy, simply thaw and reheat the meat and add your veggies and spicy mayo.
Love bowls? Try these easy recipes:
- Tuna Rice Bowl
- Bic Mac Salad Bowl
- Smoked Salmon Poke Bowl
- Steak Taco Bowl
- Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
Bahn Mi Bowls
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Small jar or bowl
Ingredients
Spicy Mayo
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2 teaspoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
Bahm Mi Bowls
- 1 lb. ground meat pork or turkey
- 3 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger root or more if you’re like me and love ginger
- 1 mini cucumber diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
Spicy Mayo
- In a small bowl combine the mayo and sriracha until it’s fully combined and set aside.
Bahn Mi Bowls
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté ground turkey or pork until cooked through.
- While the meat is cooking, dice your cucumbers and shred your carrots.
- Make the marinade. In a small mason jar (or bowl) add your soy sauce, arrowroot starch (or cornstarch), and ginger root powder. Shake or whisk to combine.
- When the meat has finished cooking, add the garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add the marinade and stir until the meat is fully coated. Continue to cook until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Assembly: Fill bowls with rice, then top with meat, cucumbers and carrots, and drizzle with spicy mayo and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy!
Jenny is a wife and stay at home mother of two. She loves good food, and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. When she’s not busy chasing kids, you can find her digging into a good book, enjoying the great outdoors, and trying not to kill her houseplants.
