Vietnamese-Style Beef with Garlic, Black Pepper, and Lime

The final feature of our Asian themed dinner last week was this recipe which is loosely based upon Bo Luc Lacor shaking beef. We first had this dish years ago at the Slanted Door in San Francisco.

Essentially it is cubed beef tenderloin seared and mixed with a delicous salt, pepper, garlic, and lime sauce.

Not completely lost in translation, the “luc lac” is merely a description for the “shaking” or tossing of the beef back and forth in the wok after it’s quickly seared.  It’s a widely popular Vietnamese dish and as such, has many variations on how it’s served. Some restaurants serve it with sauteed onions, lettuce, and rice (white or tomato paste rice) while others may present it more like a steak salad served on a bed of watercress and tomatoes, topped with pickled onions. Dipping sauces might vary from a lime/salt/pepper sauce to a soy chili sauce.

The Fine Cooking version was not as amazing as I recall the Slanted Door Shaking Beef having been but it was delicious nonetheless.

Vietnamese-Style Beef with Garlic, Black Pepper, and Lime

2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 Tbs. light brown sugar
1 Tbs. fish sauce
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbs. peanut or canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 lb. beef tri-tip steak or tenderloin,cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick wedges
3 Tbs. chopped salted peanuts, preferably toasted
2 scallions, both green and white parts, thinly sliced 5 cloves garlic, minced

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, and fish sauce; stir until the sugar dissolves. In another small bowl, stir the garlic, 1-1/2 tsp. of the oil, and 1-1/2 tsp. pepper.

Season the beef with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1-1/2 tsp.of the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Swirl to coat the skillet. Add half of the beef in a single layer and cook, without stirring, until well browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, turn the pieces over and brown on the other side, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1-1/2 tsp. oil to the skillet and repeat with the remaining beef, adding it to the bowl with the first batch when done.

Put the remaining 1-1/2 Tbs. oil in the skillet and heat until shimmering hot. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Return the beef and any accumulated juices to the pan and stir to combine. Add the soy sauce mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the beef and onions are coated and the sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the peanuts and scallions