Cinnamon Free Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Total time35 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time20 min

4.6

(18)

This skillet dinner is the kind of weeknight meal that looks and tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did. Ground beef gets seared until deeply browned, then tossed with tender wilted cabbage, sweet julienned carrots, and a punchy sauce built from coconut aminos, fresh ginger, and lemon juice. The turmeric adds a warm, earthy depth and a gorgeous golden color without leaning on any of the spices that so often sneak into Asian-inspired dishes uninvited. For anyone navigating a cinnamon sensitivity, stir fry sauces and spice blends can be a real minefield — this recipe sidesteps all of that with a clean, intentional ingredient list. Garlic-infused oil carries the savory backbone throughout, and a finish of sliced green onion tops keeps everything bright and fresh. A scatter of sesame seeds and cilantro at the end is optional but genuinely worth it. It's bold, satisfying, and completely free of the usual label-reading stress.

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Ingredients

4 servings

1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
4 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, julienned or coarsely grated
3 tbsp garlic-infused oil, divided
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
3 tbsp coconut aminos
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp salt, or to taste
3 green onions (green tops only), thinly sliced

For serving

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

1
Heat 1 tbsp of the garlic-infused oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2 minutes, then break it apart and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned throughout with no pink remaining and an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), about 5–6 minutes total. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.
2
Return the skillet to high heat and add the remaining 2 tbsp garlic-infused oil. Add the carrots and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes until slightly softened.

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