Saigon Beef Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the beef, garlic, brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, white vinegar, and water. Add the red onion slices and coat the red onions in the dressing thoroughly. Set aside to soak.
• On a platter, arrange the watercress and tomato slices.
• Preheat a large wok or skillet over high heat, then add the vegetable oil. When the oil is shimmering, swirl the oil around in the pan. Add half of the beef cubes and sear on all sides, shaking the pan, until the meat is slightly charred and medium rare, 3-5 minutes. Set the meat aside and repeat with remaining beef.
• Arrange the beef on the bed of watercress and tomatoes. Top with the dressed red onions and fresh cilantro.
• Serve with domed white rice. For a full meal, serve alongside Vietnamese crepes, spring rolls, and banh mi sandwiches.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine sugar, rice vinegar and lime juice and stir to dissolve. Add fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chiles and 1/2 cup water and stir together. Let sit for 15 minutes for flavors to meld. (May be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.)
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add rice noodles, stir and turn off heat. Let noodles soften (5 to 8 minutes, depending on brand), then drain and rinse with cold water. Leave in colander at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, combine beef, fish sauce, sugar, garlic and lemon grass in a bowl. Massage seasoning into beef and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Line a serving bowl or four individual large wide soup bowls with a few lettuce leaves and top with noodles.
• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. When wok is nearly smoking, add beef and quickly stir-fry until lightly browned and just cooked, about 2 minutes. Work in batches if necessary so meat browns and doesn't steam. (If you do not have a wok, you may use a cast iron skillet and work in batches.)
• Top noodles with cooked beef, scallions, carrot, cucumber and daikon. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed peanuts and fried shallots (add sprouts if using). Drizzle lightly with dipping sauce and pass remaining sauce at table.

Steps:

• Marinate meat with garlic, half the sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1 tablespoon oil for about 2 hours. (Refrigerate if your kitchen is very warm.) Meanwhile, combine vinegar, remaining sugar, wine, soy sauce and fish sauce. Taste, and add salt and pepper if necessary. Mix about 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.
• Divide the meat into 2 portions, and do the same with the onion and scallions. Put a wok or a large skillet over maximum heat, and add about 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil smokes, add the meat in one layer. Let it sit until a brown crust forms, and turn to brown the other side. Browning should take less than 5 minutes. Add half the onion and half the scallions, and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add about half the vinegar mixture, and shake pan to release the beef, stirring if necessary. Add half the butter, and shake pan until butter melts. Remove meat, and repeat.
• Serve beef over watercress or lettuce leaves, passing salt and pepper mixture and lime wedges at the table.

Steps:

• Season pork pieces with salt and pepper. Place in a braising pan and add 1/4 cup soy sauce, water, chili garlic sauce, ketchup, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Braise for about 2 1/2 hours, covered, until fork tender. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and "pull" with forks until shredded. Add braising liquid, to taste. Cool.
• Mix the remaining 1/4 cup vinegar, brown sugar, wine and the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Add the cucumbers and marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drizzle the olive oil on the bread. Brown lightly, if desired.
• Spread the mayonnaise on the bread and drizzle with hot sauce. Arrange the meat on the bread, top with the lettuce, marinated cucumbers, mint, and cilantro. Slice in half and serve.

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Stir together fish sauce, sugar, ginger, 5-spice powder and pepper.
• Put beef in a large bowl, add marinade and massage into meat. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes, or longer if time permits (may be wrapped and refrigerated overnight if desired).
• Put oil in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, fry the beef cubes in small batches, taking care not to crowd them, until nicely browned. When all beef is browned, return chunks to pot. Add shallots, stir to combine and continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes, or until softened.
• Add tomato, ginger, garlic, lemongrass, salt and annatto, if using, and stir well to coat, then add star anise, cinnamon and chile. Cover with 4 cups water and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer, cover with lid ajar and cook for about 1 hour 15 minutes, or until fork-tender.
• Add carrots to pot and cook 15 minutes more. Skim fat from surface of broth as necessary (or refrigerate overnight and remove congealed fat before reheating).
• To serve, ladle into individual bowls. Garnish with scallions, cilantro, mint and basil.

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.

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Available at Asian markets and Uwajimaya (800-889-1928).