Saigon Beef Food

BO LUC LAC (VIETNAMESE SHAKING BEEF)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, 8 cloves of garlic, salt and black pepper to taste. Do not go crazy with the salt, as the soy sauce is already salty! Add the beef and let it marinate for 1 hour.
• Preheat a large wok over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and, when simmering, add the remaining 2 cloves of garlic. Once fragrant, add the beef cubes, working in 2 to 3 batches if needed. Sear on all sides, shaking the pan, until medium rare, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the beef to a plate and reserve.
• Toss the onions in what's left of the marinade in the bowl. Add the onions to the wok and sauté until soft and beginning to brown. Add the beef (and its juices) back to the pan and toss with the onions.
• Remove from heat, sprinkle with sliced scallions and serve over rice or salad.

THE BEST BúN Bò Xả ỚT - VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BEEF RECIPE

Steps:

• At least 1 hour before (overnight is better), marinate the beef: crush 1 tablespoon of sugar, half the ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, half the lemongrass, and 1 Thai chili in a mortar and pestle. Combine with the thinly sliced beef, along with 1 tablespoon each of fish sauce, oyster sauce, and oil. Mix well, then cover and store in the fridge.
• At the same time, make your fish sauce: combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of ginger, 4 cloves of garlic, and 2-4 Thai chilies (as comfortable) in a mortar and pestle. Crush into a fine paste, then transfer to a jar along with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and 1 cup of water. Store in the fridge.
• When you are ready to eat, cook your vermicelli to the time indicated on the package (usually 3 minutes), then drain and rinse well with cold water. Set aside. Prepare your vegetables. In the photo, I used quick pickled cucumbers, purple cabbage, lettuce, cilantro, lime, and fried onions.
• To make quick pickled cucumbers, thinly slice 1/4 of an English cucumber, then toss with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse in cold water.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Fry your remaining 1 tablespoon of minced lemongrass until crispy and golden brown, then drain and set aside, reserving the oil.
• Add the marinated meat to the skillet and fry until well charred on both sides. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your nonstick skillet.
• Arrange vermicelli, vegetables, and beef in a bowl. Toss with 1/4 cup of the fish sauce, then top with fried lemongrass, fried shallots, a squeeze of lime, and sliced chilies, as desired.

SAIGON BEEF

Steps:

• Make chile garlic sauce: Stir together ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar, sesame oil, Sriracha sauce, and mirin in a 1-quart heavy saucepan and boil over moderate heat 5 minutes.
• Stir in sugar and simmer until thickened and reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 5 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Make beef while sauce is cooling: Pat steak dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat sesame oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté steak, stirring occasionally, until browned on outside but still pink inside, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in shallot, Sriracha sauce, habanero, and mirin and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in coconut milk and simmer, uncovered, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• To serve: Put beef, chile garlic sauce, lime wedges (for squeezing), and remaining condiments each in a separate bowl.
• Spoon beef into lettuce leaves and top with condiments and sauce, then wrap up.