Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)
Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)
Ingredients
For the Shaking Beef
- 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, plus 2 tablespoons for cooking
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into crescent-shaped pieces
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
For Serving
- 1 cucumber, sliced into thick crescent-shaped pieces
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into wedges
- 2 stalks green onions, chopped, for garnish
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1/2 cup pickled red onions, as needed
- 2 tablespoons fried garlic, for topping rice, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables for serving: Slice the cucumber into thick crescent-shaped pieces and the tomatoes into wedges. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Prepare the beef: Cut the beef sirloin into 1-inch bite-sized cubes. Place the cubed beef in a mixing bowl.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Marinate the beef: To the beef in the bowl, add the brown sugar, cornstarch, freshly ground black pepper, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the beef is well coated with the marinade. Let it sit while you prepare the pan.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cook the beef: Heat a large stainless steel pan or wok over high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is shimmering and very hot, add the marinated beef in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Allow the beef to sear for 1-2 minutes without moving it to develop a good crust.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Continue cooking: Stir the beef occasionally, allowing it to sear and brown on all sides. Once the beef is partially cooked and has some browning, add the sliced yellow onion to the pan. Continue to stir-fry the beef and onions together for 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 4 min
- 6
Add the finishing sauce: Pour the dark soy sauce into the pan with the beef and onions. Stir everything together vigorously to coat the beef and onions with the sauce. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef and onions.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Serve: Plate the cooked shaking beef and onions. Serve immediately alongside cooked rice (topped with fried garlic, if desired), sliced cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, and pickled red onions. Garnish the beef with chopped green onions and drizzle any remaining sauce from the pan over the plated beef.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)
For the Shaking Beef
- 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, plus 2 tablespoons for cooking
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into crescent-shaped pieces
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
For Serving
- 1 cucumber, sliced into thick crescent-shaped pieces
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into wedges
- 2 stalks green onions, chopped, for garnish
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1/2 cup pickled red onions, as needed
- 2 tablespoons fried garlic, for topping rice, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables for serving: Slice the cucumber into thick crescent-shaped pieces and the tomatoes into wedges. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Prepare the beef: Cut the beef sirloin into 1-inch bite-sized cubes. Place the cubed beef in a mixing bowl.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Marinate the beef: To the beef in the bowl, add the brown sugar, cornstarch, freshly ground black pepper, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix thoroughly with your hands until the beef is well coated with the marinade. Let it sit while you prepare the pan.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cook the beef: Heat a large stainless steel pan or wok over high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is shimmering and very hot, add the marinated beef in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Allow the beef to sear for 1-2 minutes without moving it to develop a good crust.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Continue cooking: Stir the beef occasionally, allowing it to sear and brown on all sides. Once the beef is partially cooked and has some browning, add the sliced yellow onion to the pan. Continue to stir-fry the beef and onions together for 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 4 min - 6
Add the finishing sauce: Pour the dark soy sauce into the pan with the beef and onions. Stir everything together vigorously to coat the beef and onions with the sauce. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef and onions.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Serve: Plate the cooked shaking beef and onions. Serve immediately alongside cooked rice (topped with fried garlic, if desired), sliced cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, and pickled red onions. Garnish the beef with chopped green onions and drizzle any remaining sauce from the pan over the plated beef.
⏱️ 5 min