What to Do with Wagyu Ground Beef: Tasty Recipes You Can Make at Home
When most people think of wagyu beef, the first thing that springs to mind is luxurious ribeye steaks with a velvety texture and rich umami flavor. It’s one of the most desirable meals around the globe, but wagyu steak can also be a little intimidating. If you aren’t an experienced home cook, you might worry that you don’t have an appropriate recipe for wagyu steak or fret about “wasting” such a premium ingredient.
If you’d like to try the delicate, buttery taste of wagyu without committing to a steak, wagyu ground beef is the way to go. Wagyu ground beef has the same flavor profile as any other wagyu product, so you’re still getting that luscious, melt-in-your-mouth dining experience. However, working with ground beef is a lot more approachable when you’re cooking in your kitchen.
At Hall Farmstead, we’re proud to offer purebred Japanese American wagyu ground beef as an affordable entry point to our decadent beef products. All of our Artisan Wagyu cattle are DNA tested and tracked for authenticity, repeatability, and consistency, ensuring the cuts of beef we produce exceed expectations each and every time. In this article, we’ll explore why wagyu is a superior alternative to the ground beef you’re used to and share some of our favorite recipes you can make at home. We’ll also get into some tips and tricks to help you cook a great wagyu meal no matter what cut you’re working with. Warning: you will probably be hungry by the end!
Wagyu ground beef elevates any menu involving beef
The biggest reason to cook with wagyu ground beef is the unique flavor it adds to your favorite recipes. Wagyu is known for exceptional marbling, making the meat richer, juicier, and much more flavorful than the ground beef you buy at the grocery store.
Wagyu from Japan is often too rich for the American palette, especially for meat lovers accustomed to the beefy flavor of cattle breeds such as Black Angus. That’s why our herd has a strict genetic makeup of 15/16 Akaushi and 1/16 Black Angus at minimum, and up to 31/32. delivering the richness of wagyu meat while still offering some of the beefy flavor Americans love. We believe it’s the perfect marriage of flavors for any menu.
Wagyu is a healthier alternative to traditional ground beef
If flavor is the number-one reason to choose wagyu ground beef, its health benefits are a close second. Akaushi cattle have a genetic predisposition to store fat on the inside of their muscles, leading to the marbling that differentiates wagyu beef while reducing waste. Wagyu beef is also high in nutrients such as oleic acid (the good fat found in olive oil), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), high biological proteins, and HDL cholesterol (the good kind).
Many nutritionists advise limiting your intake of red meat such as ground beef, but wagyu is the exception to that rule. It has been shown to reduce an individual’s risk of developing hypertension, reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), and even help prevent certain types of cancer. Indeed, the numerous health advantages of wagyu beef may surprise you.
Four scrumptious wagyu recipes to make at home
If you already have ground beef recipes you love, you can probably substitute premium wagyu ground beef to transform your dish into something truly special. That said, there’s also nothing wrong with trying a brand-new recipe built around the one-of-a-kind flavor of wagyu beef. Below, you’ll find four great recipes you can make at home.
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How to make wagyu burgers
Here is what you’ll need to make stunning wagyu burgers:
1 ½ pounds wagyu ground beef
4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in quarter-inch pieces
Kosher salt or sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
1 disposable aluminum pan (if using charcoal)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (if using stovetop)
1 hamburger bun for every diner
Sprinkle one teaspoon of pepper and ¾ teaspoon of salt into your wagyu ground beef, and gently toss it with a fork to combine. Next, divide the ground beef into four balls, tossing each between your hands until uniformly but lightly packed. Avoid working it too much. Gently flatten the balls into patties about one inch thick. If grilling, make a dimple at the center of each patty to prevent it from bulging as it cooks. Grilled meat is exposed to high heat whether it’s in direct contact with the cooking surface or not. In contrast, burgers cooked in a pan are only exposed to high heat when in direct contact with the cooking surface. They’re less prone to bulging as a result and dimples are generally unnecessary.
The next step depends on whether you’re using the grill or stovetop. If you’re grilling, the first step is heating the grill. For charcoal grills, poke 12 holes into your disposable pan with a skewer and open the bottom vent completely. Place the pan in the center of the grill and light large chimney starter two-thirds filled with charcoal briquettes. When the top coals are partially covered with ash, pour them into the pan. Set the cooking grate in place, cover it, and open the lid vent completely. Heat the grill for approximately five minutes. If you’re working with a gas grill, turn all burners to high and heat the grill until hot, generally about 15 minutes.
Whether you’re using charcoal or gas, the next step is to clean and oil the cooking grate. Season one side liberally with salt and pepper, and then flip them with a spatula so you can season the other side. Keep them on the grill until the meat is browned and easily releases from the grill (4-7 minutes), and then flip them with your spatula and cook until the temperature of the wagyu ground beef reaches at least 120 (medium-rare) or 130 (medium). Let the meat rest for at least five minutes before serving with toppings.
If you’re cooking on a stovetop, season one side of your burgers liberally with salt and pepper and flip them with a spatula so you can season the other side. Next, heat your oil in a 12-inch skillet until it’s just smoking. Use your spatula to transfer the meat to the skillet and cook for three minutes without touching them. Flip them and continue to cook until your meat registers an internal temperature of 120 (medium-rare) or 130 (medium). Let the meat rest for five minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.
A great sear will bring out the flavor of your wagyu ground beef while locking in those succulent juices, so we recommend searing each side over high heat before reducing the heat and cooking to your preference. With that, you’ve elevated an American classic with wagyu beef.
2. Wagyu ground beef tacos that go beyond beef
Here’s what you need to cook elegant wagyu beef tacos:
1 ½ pounds of wagyu ground beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup of chopped onions
Sea salt or Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Taco shells
Fresh lettuce
Additional seasonings (if desired)
First, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Next, add the onion and cook for approximately 4 minutes. Then, mix in the garlic powder and any other seasonings you decided to use and cook for another minute.
Now it’s time to add the wagyu beef, salt, and pepper. Break up the meat until it’s no longer red, and then throw in some water and reduce to a simmer. Stir the mixture occasionally until it thickens.
Finally, warm your taco shells as directed by the label and fill them with your ground beef mixture. Top with sharp cheddar and lettuce to bring out the flavor of the meat while adding a satisfying crunch. You’ve never tasted Mexican food like this!
3. Wagyu burritos - a step up from the same old burrito
Here’s what you’ll need for wagyu beef burritos:
1 pound wagyu ground beef
15 oz. drained black beans
1 cup salsa
⅔ cup water
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 carton of sour cream
Seasonings (preference)
Flour tortillas
First, heat a nonstick skillet using medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the skillet until browned and crumbly. Remove the beef mixture from the skillet and dry on a towel-lined plate, discarding the excess grease.
Next, combine the beef, beans, salsa, water, and seasonings in the skillet and bring to a boil. Mix in the cheese and simmer until it melts. Finally, warm your tortilla shells in a dry skillet, fill the shells with the beef mixture, and apply sour cream to taste. You’re finished!
4. Luxurious wagyu makes for the best beef meatballs you’ve ever tasted
Here is what you need for wagyu beef meatballs:
4 bread slices
½ cup water
1 pound wagyu ground beef
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Sea salt or Kosher salt
Diced pepper
2 eggs
2 tablespoons hot salad oil
Begin by soaking the bread in the water for 2-3 minutes. Mix in the two eggs until you have a cohesive solution. Next, mix in the ground beef, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
With wet hands, form the meat mixture into small balls. Brown slowly in the oil before adding it to tomato or mushroom sauce. Simmer in sauce loosely covered for 30 minutes. Voila!
General guidelines on cooking wagyu beef
Every recipe is different, but here are some guidelines applicable to nearly any wagyu dish you might be interested in cooking:
Never overcook wagyu
Wagyu beef experts agree that cooking it beyond medium should generally be avoided. The point of utilizing wagyu ground beef is its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture, and that goes away if you cook it too long. In fact, you should err on the side of caution and lean toward undercooking your meal. You can always put it back on the grill or in the oven.
Don’t overseason your beef
Wagyu beef has a unique umami flavor meant to be savored, so avoid masking that with overpowering, commonplace flavors such as table salt, mass-marketed condiments, and pre-packaged seasoning mixes? Such ingredients wouldn’t make your wagyu ground beef taste bad, but they will prevent the recipe from being as memorable as it could be.
Enjoy your wagyu
At the end of the day, you and your guests have to enjoy your wagyu beef dish. Experts might recommend light sides or a particular cooking method, but you don’t have to listen to them if you don’t want to. If it makes you happy, do it!
Hall Farmstead Purebred Japanese-American wagyu is the perfect choice for all of your recipes and ground beef needs
With so many mouth-watering recipes to choose from, you’re probably ready to experience the luxurious, velvety texture and succulent juiciness of wagyu ground beef for yourself. Hall Farmstead is currently offering party packs as an affordable entry point to the world of luxury beef, so why not try one today? Once you’ve mastered these wagyu ground beef recipes, you might be ready for that steak.