Vietnamese food is renowned for its bold and harmonious combination of ingredients that tantalize the taste buds. Among the culinary gems of Vietnam, one can’t help but be enchanted by the world of Vietnamese beef salad. Its variations are a symphony of textures and flavors, seamlessly blending succulent beef with vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs, and savory sauces.
1. What are the key ingredients for Vietnamese beef salad?
Vietnamese beef salad, known as goi bo or bun bo tron in Vietnamese, comes in two delightful variations: one with rice vermicelli and one without. To craft this culinary masterpiece, you will need a medley of essential ingredients, including tender beef, delicate rice vermicelli, and an array of vibrant vegetables such as carrots, fragrant coriander, onions, bean sprouts, and a touch of red chili for that enticing kick. Elevating the flavors is the quintessential Vietnamese fish sauce, which adds a unique depth of umami to this harmonious dish.
2. How to make Vietnamese beef salad?
2.1. Vietnamese beef noodle salad
Vietnamese beef noodle salad is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures. This dish combines marinated flank steak with a medley of fresh vegetables, rice vermicelli, and a savory Vietnamese beef salad sauce. Here’s how to prepare this tantalizing dish:
- First, marinate your flank steak in soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, oyster sauce, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- While it is marinating, prepare the rest of your ingredients. Cook your vermicelli, toast and cut your peanuts, and thinly slice your onions, cucumber, and carrots.
- Make Vietnamese beef salad sauce.
- Once your steak has finished marinating, cook it. Add a tablespoon of oil to a large pan and cook your onions until shiny and soft. Then, add in the steak and cook for 5-10 minutes until it is cooked through.
- Assemble a noodle bowl. Add a handful of vermicelli to the bowl, followed by lettuce, mint, cucumber, and carrots. Finally, top it all with peanuts. Drizzle the Vietnamese beef salad sauce over the top to taste and serve!
In Vietnam, Vietnamese beef noodle salad is also known as bun bo Nam Bo – a very popular dish in the Southern region. CNN Travel has recognized it as one of the top 10 popular and delicious street foods to try in Vietnam.
2.2. Vietnamese beef steak salad
Vietnamese beef steak salad offers a unique twist to the traditional Vietnamese noodle salad. It features thinly sliced beef marinated in zesty lime juice, fish sauce, and ginger garlic paste. The beef is then combined with rice noodles and an assortment of fresh vegetables, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and a refreshing salad experience. Here’s the recipe for this Vietnamese beef salad:
- In a small bowl, mix the lime juice, fish sauce, and garlic ginger paste. Pour this mixture over the sirloin steak brought to room temperature. Cover and soak for at least 20 minutes.
- Place dried rice noodles in a bowl and soak them with boiling water. Let it sit for 1 minute, then carefully drain and rinse under cold water.
- Peel and cut carrots into strips. Slice cucumber into ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Chop lettuce, cilantro, and mint leaves. Finely slice red chili, seeds included.
- Place your prepared vegetables in a large bowl.
- Heat a griddle pan or skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the marinated steak. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare or longer if you prefer them more well-done.
- Remove the steak and wrap them loosely in foil to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- In a bowl, mix sesame oil, lime juice, fish sauce, and honey. Toss everything together to mix the salad ingredients with the noodles. Unwrap and slice the steak, then add them to the top of the salad. Pour a Vietnamese salad dressing and mix. Serve and enjoy!
![Vietnamese beef salad The freshness of the ingredients is crucial for an authentic dish of Vietnamese beef salad](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/vietnamese-beef-salad-4.jpg)
The freshness of the ingredients is crucial for an authentic dish of Vietnamese beef salad (Source: Collected)
2.3. Vietnamese green papaya and beef jerky salad
This Vietnamese beef salad is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures. It pairs shredded green papaya with savory beef jerky and is topped with roasted peanuts and Thai basil. The combination of sweet, sour, and umami flavors makes it a culinary delight. Below is how to make this Vietnamese beef salad:
- Begin by peeling and shredding the green papaya. Soak it in a mild saltwater solution to remove excess bitterness, then drain thoroughly.
- The primary herbs used for this dish are kinh gioi (Vietnamese balm) and hung la (rice paddy herb). In some variations, rau mui (coriander) is also added. Rinse them clean and chop them finely.
- Toast and crush the peanuts.
- Cut the beef jerky into bite-sized pieces.
- When all the ingredients are ready, place them in a bowl and pour the dressing over them. Toss everything together before serving.
- For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved.
There is a little difference between the Vietnamese green papaya salad with beef jerky in Hanoi and that in Ho Chi Minh City. While Hanoi’s beef jerky includes various cuts, Saigon sticks to tendons and liver, resulting in a darker color of the dish. In terms of texture, Hanoi’s salad keeps the papaya crunchier, while Saigon’s version squeezes it dry. Herb choices also vary. However, both salads share a common feature: a dressing that balances sweet, tangy, and aromatic elements with a touch of spicy chili sauce.
![Vietnamese beef salad Vietnamese beef salad](https://static.vinwonders.com/production/vietnamese-beef-salad-5.jpeg)
Whether you are in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can always find a delicious bowl of Vietnamese beef salad (Source: Collected)
2.4. Vietnamese rare beef salad
Vietnamese rare beef salad, or bo tai chanh, is a classic Vietnamese dish. Similar to carpaccio or beef tataki, this salad is cooked with lime juice and infused with flavors from fish sauce, sugar, chili, Thai basil, and more. The result is an impeccable blend of savory, citrusy, and spicy notes:
- Pat dry your steak with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat up a cast iron pan and sear each side of the steak for 15 seconds. Set aside for 5 minutes to rest then slice it very thinly.
- Combine the sliced beef in a bowl with lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and bird’s eye chili. Mix together and set aside in the refrigerator for 15 minutes; the acidity will help “cook” your beef from raw to rare.
- For pickled onions, combine your thinly sliced onions in a bowl, then add vinegar and sugar. Mix and set aside.
- In the same cast iron pan, heat up oil. Sauté the minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove your beef from the refrigerator. Top with fresh basil, chopped scallions, crispy fried onions, garlic, and crushed peanuts.
2.5. Vietnamese shaking beef salad
Vietnamese shaking beef salad, also known as bo luc lac, is a vibrant dish that features marinated beef stir-fried to perfection. This dish is a symphony of flavors, combining garlic, sweet soy sauce, fresh watercress, tomatoes, and shallots. Here is the recipe for this Vietnamese beef salad:
- Cut the beef into 2-centimeter pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, pepper, garlic, soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. Cover and set aside for 1 hour to marinate.
- Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the marinated beef, shaking the wok often for 3-5 minutes until golden and the beef is cooked to medium-rare or your preferred doneness.
- Squeeze lime over the beef. Serve with watercress, tomato, and shallots.
2.6. Vietnamese sweet & sour beef salad
Vietnamese sweet and sour beef salad is a dish loved by many locals. Thinly sliced beef is marinated and stir-fried to perfection, offering a tender and flavorful base for this dish. It is complemented by a medley of ingredients like pineapple, shallots, and peanuts, creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. Here is a detailed guide on how to make this Vietnamese beef salad:
- Thinly slice the beef and marinate it with garlic, bouillon powder, sesame oil, black pepper, vegetable oil, and pineapple juice. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Roast and crush the peanuts. Clean and chop the herbs into small pieces.
- Thinly slice onions and sauté until golden.
- Thinly slice the shallots and soak them in ice water to reduce their spiciness.
- Peel and thinly slice green bananas. Soak them in saltwater with a little vinegar to reduce bitterness.
- Prepare the salad dressing: Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce. Add minced garlic and chili.
- After marinating, heat a pan, add the beef, and cook until well done.
- Add the beef to a plate, followed by the bananas, shallots, onions, and herbs. Remember to remove excess water from the bananas, shallots, and onions.
- Pour the salad dressing over the top and gently mix everything together.
- Finish with roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, and fried garlic slices.
3. What is the difference between Vietnamese and Thai beef salad?
Vietnamese beef salad and Thai beef salad have intriguing distinctions in flavors despite some shared ingredients. The key differentiator is the fish sauce, which imparts unique characteristics to each dish. Thai fish sauce tends to be more astringently salty, embodying the bold nature of Thai cuisine. In contrast, Vietnamese fish sauce, much like the cuisine itself, offers a more subtle experience. It delivers a softer umami that harmonizes beautifully with the sweeter and tangier essence of Vietnamese food.
While relishing the exquisite flavors of Vietnamese beef salad, remember that Vietnam’s culinary journey has so much more to offer. Beyond this delightful dish, the country boasts a diverse array of other culinary treasures waiting to be explored. Some notable dishes are Vietnamese sandwich, Vietnamese noodles, Vietnamese spring rolls, Vietnamese broken rice, Vietnamese chicken rice, and Vietnamese pancake.
To immerse yourself fully in Vietnam’s beauty, consider a gastronomic adventure across the country. You can explore Hanoi‘s bustling markets, stroll through the charming streets of Hoi An, enjoy the coastal beauty of Nha Trang, or relax on the idyllic island of Phu Quoc.
For those seeking entertainment in these destinations, it is recommended to visit VinWonders Wave Park & Water Park, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium, VinWonders Nam Hoi An, VinWonders Nha Trang, and VinWonders Phu Quoc. These entertainment complexes promise all sorts of fun-filled activities, from thrilling rides to aquatic experiences.
>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium and VinWonders Wave Park & Water Park to add a touch of excitement to your adventure!
Vietnamese beef salad offers a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This refreshing dish, whether enjoyed on a bustling street corner in Hanoi or at an upscale restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine – a delicate balance of sweet, savory, sour, and spicy. Beyond its delectable taste, Vietnam’s vibrant culture, landscapes, and hospitality await your discovery!