Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef

Name: Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef (Bò Nướng Xả)
Yield: Makes 12 Skewers
Cuisine: Vietnam
Ingredients: 10 spring onions (scallions), white part only, sliced; 10 spring onions (scallions), white part only, sliced; 2 lemongrass stems, white part only, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) minced beef; 1 teaspoon shrimp paste; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon light soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon soft brown sugar; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 4 small baguettes or small Vietnamese bread rolls, warmed; 4 small baguettes or small Vietnamese bread rolls, warmed; 250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) hoisin dipping sauce

Bò Nướng Xả

Preparation info

Makes
12
Skewers

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Songs of Sapa

By Luke Nguyen

Published 2009

About

THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF THIS DISH FOUND THROUGHOUT VIETNAM BUT I FIND THIS ONE THE EASIEST TO PREPARE. MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE VIETNAMESE-STYLE BAGUETTES, WHICH ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE FRENCH TYPE.

Ingredients

10 spring onions (scallions), white part only, sliced
2 lemongrass stems, white part only, finely chopped
2 garl

Asia
Vietnam
Hanoi
Starter
Side dish
Southeast Asia

Method

Put the spring onions, lemongrass, garlic and a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper in a mortar, and pound to a fine paste. Alternatively, use a food processor to make the paste.

Transfer the paste to a large bowl and add the beef, shrimp paste, fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and sesame seeds. Mix well, then cover and refrigerate for 1 hour for the flavours to