in , ,

Bo Kho: the Vietnamese Beef Stew You Never Knew You Loved

I didn’t develop up consuming beef stew, however to say that I’ve an obsession with it’s placing it mildly. There’s one thing about beef stew that’s all the time captured my consideration. Even as a child I all the time needed to eat it – beef was by no means on the dinner desk, so I’m undecided if it was the forbiddenness of it or the proven fact that beef stew smells so darn good.

Anyway, it’s nonetheless winter over right here, full with a random snowstorm, and snowy winter climate all the time places me in the temper for a gradual simmered soup or stew. I used to be going for heat and comfy and since I don’t have a beef stew recipe from childhood, I made a decision to steal Mike’s.

Well, to be trustworthy, Mike stated that his mother didn’t make beef stew that a lot rising up, however I actually dig Vietnamese beef stew so in fact I made a decision to make bo kho.

If you haven’t had it earlier than, bo kho is basically a Vietnamese tackle beef stew. Bo means beef and kho means braise/stew. The identical acquainted components present in a daily beef stew are in bo kho: beef, onions, carrots, and potatoes, however the seasoning is the place the enjoyable occurs. Lemongrass provides a zippy undertone and star anise, fennel and cinnamon add heat. Most of the time, annatto seeds are used to provide bo kho a vibrant pink hue, however I skipped out on that for simplicity’s sake.

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

I prepped this stew as the snow was falling and a few hours and a visit to the retailer for Vietnamese baguettes later, we sat right down to the most comforting meal ever.

The bo kho was beefy, barely tomato-y, and heat and welcoming from spices. Toasted baguettes had been important for scooping up the gravy. The cubes of beef had been tender and wealthy, with a little bit of chew and the potatoes did that creamy potato factor that each one good potatoes do in a stew. Half-way by, we modified it up a bit by squeezing a lime wedge in for brightness and acidity.

It was so, so good: heat and comforting, humble and acquainted. It felt like I used to be wrapping myself up in my favourite cozy blanket on a chilly night time. It was a lot greater than beef stew, it was – as tacky because it sounds – the style of dwelling.

PS – After making this, Mike found that in Da Nang, which is legendary for bo kho, they eat stew for breakfast, with an egg. We tried it the subsequent day with our leftovers and it was HEAVEN.

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

Bo Kho Vietnamese Beef Stew Recipe | www.iamafoodblog.com

Bo Kho/Vietnamese Beef Stew
serves 4


  • 1 lb beef, cubed
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • salt and freshly floor pepper
  • oil for the pan
  • 1 inch piece ginger, sliced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • Four cloves garlic, minced
  • Four stalks lemongrass, reduce into Four inch lengths, bruised
  • 1 onion, reduce into 1 inch items
  • 1-2 carrots, peeled and reduce into 1-2 inch items
  • Four small potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 1/Four cup tomato paste
  • Four cups beef inventory
  • three entire star anise
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • three entire cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon sugar, or to style
  • 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce, or to style

To serve:

  • sliced inexperienced onion
  • sliced jalapeños
  • Thai basil
  • cilantro
  • lime wedges
  • flippantly toasted baguettes

Lightly pat the beef cubes dry with a clear paper towel then toss in the flour, coating every dice. Dust off the extra and season with salt and freshly floor pepper.

In a heavy bottomed pan with a lid or a dutch oven, warmth a beneficiant quantity of oil over medium excessive warmth. When the oil is sizzling, sear the beef cubes on all sides till deeply golden. Remove from the pan and put aside.

Add the ginger slices, shallot, garlic, and lemongrass and prepare dinner, stirring, till the shallot and garlic are comfortable, however not brown, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the the onions, carrots, and potatoes. Stir in the tomato paste and beef inventory. Add the beef again into the pan and produce to a delicate simmer over medium excessive warmth.

While the stew is coming to a simmer, wrap the star anise, fennel, cloves, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick in cheese material or place in a big tea bag for straightforward removing later. Add it to the stew.

When the stew involves a boil, flip the warmth as little as attainable – you need the barest simmer – and canopy partway, leaving a little bit of the pan uncovered to set free steam. Simmer for two hours, stirring often and including a contact of water as wanted.

After 2 hours take a look at the meat, it needs to be tender and scrumptious, however in no way falling aside. Season with fish sauce and sugar to style. Enjoy!

Optional: Vietnamese beef stew isn’t thickened, however should you like your stew on the barely thicker facet, make a roux from 2 tablespoons of butter and a pair of tablespoons of flour. Melt the butter in a small pot over medium warmth. Whisk in the flour and prepare dinner, whisking till brown and wealthy. After seasoning the stew, whisk the roux into the stew and produce it to a simmer.

Stay consumed Primetweets Kitchen!

Report

What do you think?

1.2k Points
Upvote Downvote

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *