Bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew)
Bo kho may be less well known than pho, but it's one delicious beef stew packed with wonderful aromatic flavor.
Servings: 4 (approx)
Calories: 219kcal
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Ingredients
- 1.3 lb beef shank 600g, approx 1lb 5oz off bone (I had 2lb on bone)
- 2 tablespoon ginger
- 1 clove garlic (large)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 stick lemongrass (or 2 if small)
- 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil or a little more, as needed
- ½ onion (med-large)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 star anise
- 1 ½ cups coconut water 360ml
- 1 ½ cups beef stock 360ml, or water if adding beef bones
- 2 carrots chopped
Instructions
- Dice the beef into bite-sized pieces, trimming any excess fat or larger sinew.
- Mix the beef in a bowl with finely chopped/grated ginger and garlic, Chinese five spice and fish sauce. Set aside for around 30 mins.
- Meanwhile, peel and cut the carrots into large chunks and slice the onions. Cut the lemongrass in to two or three lengths and split them down the middle.
- Warm around half the oil in a Dutch oven and cook the lemongrass a minute to bring out the flavor. Remove and set aside.
- Brown the meat on all sides in batches, removing as they are done.
- Soften the onion, then return the beef and lemongrass to the pot.
- Add the pepper, paprika and tomato paste, cook a minute then add the coconut water and broth (or water and bones).
- Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 2 hours in total, adding the carrots after around 1 ½ hours. Remove the whole star anise and lemongrass before serving.
- You can serve the stew as it is, over rice, noodles (rice or egg), or with crusty bread.
Video
Notes
If you want this as a one-pot stew, you can also add some small or diced potatoes along with the carrots. The stew works well reheated the next day.
Nutrition
Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 1075mg | Potassium: 936mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 5270IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 3.4mg