Thit Bo Xao Xa Ot (Vietnamese Beef with Lemongrass)

Vietnamese Dinner Recipes

2 stalks fresh lemon grass (2 Tbsp dried) 1 lb lean beef fillet or eye of round 2 fresh red chili peppers, seeded minced 6 garlic cloves, minced 3 Tbsp fish sauce (nuoc mam) 1 tsp arrowroot or cornstarch 6 Tbsp veg oil 2 medium onions, in slivers 1 Tbsp sugar 1/4 c dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely ground cilantro sprigs

Discard outer leaves of lemon grass, upper half of stalk. Slice thin & chop fine. Cut beef across grain into v thin slices. Pound w/flat side of cleaver. In bowl, combine beef, lemon grass, chilis, half garlic, 2 Tbsp fish sauce, arrowroot, black ppr to taste and 2 Tbsp oil. (marinate 30min) Heat oil over mod hi, add onions, garlic. Stir fry to golden brn. Remove onions. Add remaining 2 Tbsp oil, add beef, 1 Tbsp fish sauce, sugar. Saute over hi 1–2min. Arrange sauteed onions around meat, sprinkle peanuts, pepper over all. Garnish w/cilantro.

Submitted by Gretchen Grant
Contributed on: Tuesday May 11th, 2004 and modified on Saturday November 5th, 2005