How to make the best traditional Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe, known to locals as Bo Luc Lac.
Our quick & easy healthy Vietnamese Shaken Beef features tender chunks of marinated steak that are served over a bed of watercress or arugula with sliced tomatoes, crispy fried shallots and fresh lime.
We know the enthusiastic meat lovers in your family will love this authentic Bo Luc Lac recipe!
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What Is Bo Luc Lac?
Bò Lúc Lắc, also known as “Shaking Beef” is a Vietnamese dish that consists of juicy and tender marinated beef chunks that are sauteed over high heat in a wok.
In Vietnamese “bò” means “beef,“ and “lúc lắc” is onomatopoeia for thevigorous shaking sounds you hear in the wok as you stir fry beef over a hot flame.
This special stir frying technique helps develop even browning on all sides of the meat, while ensuring it juicy on the inside. It also helps deglaze the wok.
Historically, beef dishes were uncommon in Vietnam until French colonization in the 19th-century. Steak was considered a luxurious cooking ingredient, traditionally served to the upper classes and at formal events, such as wedding banquets and anniversaries.
The popular Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe is typically served over a bed of watercress or arugula with sliced tomatoes, crispy shallots, and a zesty dipping sauce made of fresh lime juice and cracked pepper.
If you’re a fan of dining out at steakhouses and consider yourself an enthusiastic carnivore we know you’ll enjoy feasting on this tender Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe!
Travel to Vietnam by Cooking “Shaking” Beef Stir Fry at Home
I love traveling through Asia.
My first visit to Asia had me living in South Korea for a year as a teacher and it’s where I was first introduced to fermented vegetables like kimchi.
After my contract ended in Seoul I travelled throughout southeast Asia for 6 months, visiting the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
I spent over a month traveling by bus through Vietnam. I started in the south, spending a few days in Saigon before exploring the floating markets in the nearby Mekong Delta. I then took a series of night buses north making stops in Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay and Hanoi.
What I found most fascinating is Vietnam’s distinct regional food cultures. Much like the regional cuisines found in France, Germany, Italy or Spain, each town in Vietnam had its own local speciality.
Where To Eat Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Vietnamese restaurant that serves a traditional Bo Luc Lac Shaking Beef.
Haven’t traveled to Vietnam before? It may be helpful to first sampleVietnamese Beef Stir Fry at a local restaurant to better understand how the dish is served. You can assess the ideal size of the beef chunks, prefered doneness (we like medium rare), and side dishes to serve at the table.
In Toronto, popular Vietnamese restaurants that may serve their own unique Shaking Beef recipe include Pinky’s Ca Phe, Pho Phuong, Pho Vistro, Anh Dao, Pho Hung, Pho Asia 21 or The Golden Turtle.
Join Dobbernationloves founder Andrew Dobson in the kitchen by signing up for a fun virtual cooking class! Classes begin with a cocktail that you can sip while preparing 2-3 recipes that are curated around a unique culinary theme. Check out our current Cooking Class Schedule!
My Family Loves Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry
I love cooking Vietnamese food!
I knew my family would love this homemade Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe as we’re always looking for creative ways to travel with our taste buds while cooking in the kitchen.
I knew my parents would rave for Bo Luc Lac as they love tender marinated steak, fresh vegetables and refreshing lime. My dad even joked that the dish appeared like a healthy salad when served on a large plate at dinner.
Since the dish is quickly seared in a pan, it’s important to use a tender cut of beef that cooks fast. We suggest using sirloin, rib eye or tenderloin. At the butcher look for a cut of beef that has ample marbling in the meat so each time you bite a piece of steak it is juicy and flavourful.
If you’re hosting friends or family for a dinner party this Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry is an excellent main course or side dish to be served with rice, noodles or soup.
Shaking Beef Health Benefits
Our homemade Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Beef is a great source of protein and minerals like iron as well as an excellent source of the amino acid L-carnitine. Beef also features antioxidant glutathione known for its anti-aging benefits.
Shallots are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
Ginger contains at least 14 phytochemicals, many of which have impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has a good source of copper, which supports your bones, blood and nervous system.
Peanuts are rich in protein, fat, and fibre. While peanuts may have a large amount of fat, most of the fats they contain are known as “good fats.”
Lettuce is one of the most widely consumed vegetables worldwide, but its nutritional value has been underestimated. Lettuce is low in calories, fat and sodium. It is a good source of fibre, iron, folate, and vitamin C. Lettuce is also a good source of various other health-beneficial bioactive compounds.
Rich in a group of phytochemicals called carotenoids, tomatoes may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and provide protection against cancer. Tomatoes are also a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C.
A rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C, limes help boost your immune system and neutralize free radicals that cause disease and skin aging. Lemons also protect against heart disease and help improve blood flow to the brain.
Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry Recipe Cooking Tips
This easy Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe is quick and easy to make at home.
- We suggest using a large wok when making homemade Vietnamese Shaking Beef to ensure the meat stays inside the pan while vigorously shaking it back and forth.
- Use a tender cut of beef such as sirloin, rib eye or tenderloin steak. Avoid tough cuts of beef as they require longer cooking times to soften and tenderize via braising.
- If you’re not in a rush to get dinner on the table, marinate the beef chunks in the soy sauce mixture for at least an hour to help flavour the beef.
- We’ve used brown sugar in this recipe as it’s likely in your pantry but we always prefer traditional Palm Sugar, which you can find at your local Asian supermarket.
- We’ve served the Bo Luc Lac with fresh arugula/rocket lettuce but you can substitute for watercress.
- Many authentic Shaking Beef recipes feature sauteed onions. In an effort to create additional layers of flavour and texture we’ve topped the dish with crispy fried shallots instead.
- Some interpretations of Bo Luc Lac feature sauteed sliced red bell peppers.
- In some regions of Vietnam the dish is served with pickled onions.
- The dish is often served with a lime based dipping sauce that is easy to make, it’s just a mix of fresh lime juice, salt, and pepper. Or serve Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry casually with a spritz of fresh lime wedge, sprinkle of kosher salt and few grinds of freshly cracked pepper.
What To Serve with Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry
We love serving this healthy authenticVietnamese Beef Stir Fry recipe as the main course at a Southeast Asian inspired dinner party.
If you’re hosting a large Vietnamese feast or potluck you might want to serve Bo Luc Lac Shaking Beef with other dishes from Vietnam like Bun Cha Vietnamese Noodle Bowl, Vietnamese Grilled Pork “Bun Thit Nuong”, Goi Xoai Vietnamese Mango Salad, Goi Ga Vietnamese Salad, Shrimp & Pork Vietnamese Egg Rolls, Vietnamese Crepe Bánh Xèo, Ca Ri Ga Vietnamese Chicken Curry and Pho Noodle Soup.
After dinner why not dazzle your guests with one of our popular desserts such as Oat Flour Cookies with Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Lindt Lindor Cookies, Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes Recipe, Blueberry Cream Cheese Earl Grey Ice Cream, Swedish Ricotta Oatmeal Rhubarb Bars, Baileys Banoffee Cake, Flaky Swedish Rhubarb Cherry Pie, Skittles Sugar Cookies and Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies.
You May Also Enjoy These Asian Recipes….
- Filipino Spicy Coconut Chicken Wing Stew
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- Chinese Ginger Garlic Soup Recipe for Colds
- Green Onion Cake Cong You Bing
- Vegan Chinese Cucumber Salad
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Japanese Cabbage Pancake
- Buchimgae Buchu-Jeon Korean Chive Pancake
- Spicy Gukbap Korean Rice & Beef Soup
- Spicy Pork Bibimbap
- Baked Korean Gochujang Chicken Wings
- Thai Red Curry Prawn Burger
- Thai Pork Rib Soup with Vermicelli Noodles
- Egg Tofu Soup with Pork Meatballs
- Grabong Northern Thai Pumpkin Fritter
- Gai Pad Med Mamuang Thai Cashew Chicken
- Nam Tok Authentic Thai “Waterfall Beef” Salad
- Thai Pork & Beef Mince Curry Khua Kling
How To Make Bo Luc Lac Shaking Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry
Bo Luc Lac Vietnamese Beef Stir Fry
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- Wok
- French knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb Beef Sirloin or Rib Eye Steak cut into bite sized cubes
- 5 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 tsp Maggi Sauce
- 2 tsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- Black Pepper and Salt
- 1 tbsp Peanut oil for cooking
- 2 cup Packed Arugula
- 4 Small Roma Tomatoes sliced
- 2 tbsp Fried Shallots
- 1 Lime cut into wedges
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the beef cubes with minced garlic, Maggi sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar. Generously season with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Place a wok over high heat, then add peanut oil.
- Add the marinated beef to the wok and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the meat is slightly charred. Stir constantly by shaking the wok back and forth.
- Spoon the beef over a bed of arugula and tomato slices. Sprinkle with fried shallots and spritz with lime wedge. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.
Nutrition
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