Vietnamese Beef Salad Recipes

VIETNAMESE BEEF AND RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Toss in the rice noodles and boil for 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and allow the noodles to stand in the water for 5 more minutes. Dump into a colander and rinse under cold water, then cover with a damp towel and set aside at room temperature.
• In a dry wok or large skillet over medium heat, stir-fry or shake the peanuts just until aromatic, warm, and a soft brown color. Crush the peanuts in a mortar until coarsely ground.
• In a large bowl, toss the bean sprouts, cucumber, mint, scallions, and lettuce.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the fish sauce, rice vinegar, water, and sugar and heat until bubbles just begin to form. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Add the garlic, chile, and lime juice to the mixture.
• Slice the beef into 1/16 inch strips and combine in a bowl with 2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass, the fish sauce, and half the garlic. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
• In a wok or large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Working in 2 batches, stir-fry the onion, remaining lemongrass, and remaining garlic just until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase the heat to high, add the beef, and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining beef but leave it in the wok or skillet.
• Return the first batch of beef and the vegetables to the wok, season with the sugar, salt, and pepper, and stir-fry until warmed through. Remove from the heat.
• Divvy the rice noodles among 4 bowls or plates, top with the vegetable mixture, and sprinkle with the crushed peanuts. Pile the beef on top and sprinkle with the remaining peanuts. Pass the dipping sauce on the side for drizzling or dipping.

VIETNAMESE SHAKING BEEF SALAD (PALEO, GLUTEN-FREE)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the beef cubes with the marinade ingredients. I like to use my hands to rub the meat with all the sauces, garlic and chilli. Cover the bowl or transfer the meat to a container and marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and longer if you can. If you're short on time, 15-20 minutes will do but the meat won't be as tasty.
• Combine the sliced onions with pickling ingredients and rub with your hands. Allow marinating in a bowl for 10-15 minutes or longer as well.
• Prepare the salad ingredients. You can toss everything in a bowl or serve this dish on a platter like in my photos.
• To cook the beef, remove from the fridge for 10 minutes to come to room temperature (unless it's already out). Heat 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil or macadamia oil over high heat. Add the beef in two batches (hold off some of the sauce) and fry for 3 minutes each batch. I like to let the meat cook for 1 minute before I start turning the pieces over so it can brown slightly. Once the batches are done, return all beef to the pan together with any remaining marinade. Now, stir-fry or shake the pan to get everything nicely tossed together and cook for another minute.
• Serve the cooked beef with all the juices over the salad and top with pickled onions (or have those in a side dish).

CARAMELISED VIETNAMESE SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• Mix Marinade in a bowl.
• Add shredded beef and mix. Set aside 5 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add about half the beef and spread out in single layer.
• Leave undisturbed until golden (about 1 minute). Flip then cook the other side just briefly (about 30 seconds) just to heat and get a touch of golden, then remove.
• Repeat with remaining beef.
• Serve over rice, using either limes or Nuoc Cham as the sauce, and garnishes of choice (I used them all in the photos!)

VIETNAMESE NOODLE SALAD WITH LEMONGRASS BEEF (BUN BO XAO)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Cut the sirloin against the grain into slices a little less than a quarter of an inch thick.
• Then, cut each slice into chunks about 1/2-inch wide. Place into a medium bowl.
• Mix the beef chunks with the nước mắm (fish sauce), garlic, and lemongrass.
• Divide the noodles between 2 bowls. Top with the julienned cucumber, pickled carrot and radish and finger chilie (if using).
• Heat the peanut oil in a wok to smoking point. Stir-fry the beef for about 2 minutes.
• Divide the beef between the 2 bowls.
• Top with fresh herbs, peanuts, and fried shallots.
• Serve with nước mắm pha on the side.

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BEEF AND NOODLE SALAD

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.

VIETNAMESE-STYLE BEEF SALAD

Steps:

• Halve cucumber lengthwise, then slice diagonally 1/4 inch thick.
• Stir together lime juice, water, fish sauce, sugar, red-pepper flakes, and shallot in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Arrange pineapple and cucumber on a platter and drizzle with some of dressing. Drape roast beef slices on top and arrange mint alongside. Serve with remaining dressing on the side.