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Description
Bun bo xao, a zesty stir-fry of marinated beef hot from the wok paired with room temperature rice noodles, makes a satisfying main-course salad year-round. Dressed with a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce and topped with roasted peanuts, the flavors are clean, bright and restorative. Yes, this recipe calls for a lot of ingredients, but the prep is simple, and it’s an easy introduction to Vietnam cooking for the uninitiated.
Ingredients
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4tablespoons Demerara or granulated light brown sugar 3tablespoons rice vinegar 4tablespoons lime juice, from 2 large limes 4tablespoons best quality fish sauce, such as Red Boat 2garlic cloves, minced 11-inch length ginger, peeled and minced 1medium-hot red chile, such as Fresno, chopped 1hot red or green bird chile, thinly sliced 12ounces rice vermicelli noodles 1pound beef skirt steak or sirloin, in thin 1/4-inch slices 2tablespoons best quality fish sauce, such as Red Boat 1tablespoon Demerara or granulated light brown sugar 3garlic cloves, minced 3tablespoons finely chopped lemon grass, tender centers only 1head lettuce, such as butter lettuce or Little Gems, tender center leaves separated 2tablespoons vegetable oil 4scallions, slivered 1medium carrot, cut in 3-inch lengths, julienned (about 1 cup) 1small cucumber, 3-inch lengths, julienned (about 1 cup) 13-inch length daikon radish, julienned (about 1 cup) Mixture of cilantro sprigs, mint leaves, basil leaves and small perilla (shiso) leaves, about 3 cups 4tablespoons crushed roasted peanuts 4tablespoons fried shallots, available in Asian groceries (or make your own using this recipe) Small handful bean sprouts or sunflower sprouts (optional)
Directions
Make the dipping sauce:: 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.
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