Bo Xao Xa Ot
Don’t worry, I can’t pronounce it either. A sound enough reason to make this easy Vietnamese Beef Stir-Fry at home instead of struggling to order it at a restaurant.
A better reason to make this spicy Vietnamese dish at home? The aromatic combination of the three key ingredients – fresh lemongrass, chili peppers, and garlic – as they’re stir-fried in your kitchen.
Bo Xao Xa Ot is what a stir-fry should be – quick to cook, and exciting to eat.
Just marinate the beef in fish sauce, lime juice, and black pepper. Then toss it into a steaming wok with the spices – lemongrass, chili pepper, garlic, and turmeric. And add in soy sauce and sugar to enhance the flavors. For a healthier version, include some vegetables too like bell pepper, bean sprouts, asparagus or broccoli.
Enjoy this spicy Vietnamese beef stir-fry with a bowl of steamed rice. And if you have time, cook up another side dish to go with it like Stir-Fried Broccoli & Mushroom or Pomelo Salad.
Vietnamese Beef Stir-Fry with Lemongrass and Chili Peppers (Bo Xao Xa Ot)
Ingredients
- 1 serving of thinly sliced beef for stir-fry
- 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
- A generous squeeze of fresh lime juice
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 cloves garlic – roughly chopped
- 1 lemongrass stalk – outer layer removed white bulbous end finely minced
- 1/4 tsp of Season with Spice’s turmeric powder
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Half a red onion – cut into wedges
- Half a red bell pepper – sliced thinly
- 1 fresh red chili pepper serrano chili – sliced thinly
- Cilantro or green onion for garnish
- Unsalted roasted peanuts – crushed optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, marinate beef for 15 minutes with fish sauce, lime juice, and black pepper.
- Heat oil in a wok or frying pan over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add garlic and lemongrass and stir-fry until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add in the onion and the beef (with the marinate). Let the beef sear for a minute.
- Then add in turmeric powder, sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce, and quickly toss all ingredients together.
- Add in red bell pepper, and a bit of water if needed. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, being careful not to overcook the beef.
- Remove from heat. Squeeze in some more lime juice, add a pinch of black pepper, and garnish with cilantro.
- Serve the Vietnamese stir-fried beef with steamed rice.