Name: Grilled Lemongrass Beef
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Makes 4 servings as a main course, 8 as a starter
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 1½ to 2 pounds beef tenderloin or boneless sirloin; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds; 2 lemongrass stalks, trimmed and finely chopped; 2 tablespoons nam pla, plus a little more if needed; Salt if necessary; ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste; Nuoc Cham for dipping; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 small dried chile, or to taste; 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped; 2 large or 4 medium shallots, roughly chopped

Preparation info

Makes
4
servings as a main course

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr

Appears in

The Best Recipes in the World

By Mark Bittman

Published 2005

About

Lemongrass has a distinctive flavor that is instantly likable and very closely associated with the cuisine of Vietnam (it’s grown and used elsewhere, especially in Southeast Asia, but nowhere quite as widely). This dish is often served on a flat bed of plain rice noodles, but I like it best over a salad, dressed with a little nuoc cham. For information on Asian fish sauces like nam pla.

Other cuts of meat you can use here: pork, cut from