vietnamese beef with crispy rice

Photo by The Culinary Nest

This is one of those recipes that you will crave over and over again. The tender, thinly sliced beef covered in a sweet, peppery, and slightly spicy sauce melts in your mouth. Then, it is served over a CRISPY rice… I mean, hello perfection!

Recipe by: Half Baked Harvest

MAKES

6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin or flank steak, cut into 1 inch cubes

Black pepper

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon fish sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced or grated

Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

1/4 cup sesame or extra virgin olive oil

3 cups cooked white rice

1 cup shredded radicchio or purple cabbage

4 carrots, shredded or cut into ribbons

1 Persian cucumber, sliced

2 green onions, chopped

1 lime, cut into wedges

1/4 cup fresh basil, and or mint, roughly chopped

chopped peanuts, for serving

METHOD

• Season the steak all over with pepper.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, honey, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Add the beef and toss to coat. 

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the rice and season with salt. Toss to coat in oil. Press the rice evenly across the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Let cook, without stirring, until the rice begins to turn golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Spoon the rice out of the pan and onto a plate.

• Return the skillet to high heat and add the remaining oil. Spoon the steak out of the sauce, reserving any sauce left in the bowl, and cook, undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Stir and cook, undisturbed for another 2-3 minutes. Pour the remaining sauce, 3 tablespoons water, and bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the sauce thickens and begins to coat the steak, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.

• Divide the rice among bowls and top with cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers. Spoon the beef and sauce overtop. Squeeze with lime. Top with green onions, basil and peanuts. Eat!