Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Printable version)

Tender marinated beef seared with bell peppers and onions, served with tangy lime dipping sauce.

# What you need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1.1 lb beef sirloin or tenderloin, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
02 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
03 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
04 - 1 tbsp fish sauce
05 - 1 tbsp sugar
06 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil

→ For Stir-Frying

09 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
10 - 1 medium red onion, sliced into wedges
11 - 1 small green bell pepper, cut into chunks
12 - 1 small red bell pepper, cut into chunks
13 - 2 spring onions, cut into 2 inch lengths

→ For the Lime Dipping Sauce

14 - 1 lime, juiced
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

→ To Serve

17 - 3.5 oz watercress or baby greens
18 - 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
19 - Steamed jasmine rice (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - In a large bowl, combine beef cubes with soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, minced garlic, and 1 tbsp oil. Toss well. Marinate for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour for deeper flavor).
02 - Mix lime juice, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Arrange watercress and tomato slices on a serving platter.
04 - Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering.
05 - Add marinated beef in a single layer. Sear without stirring for 1 minute to develop color.
06 - Shake or stir-fry beef rapidly for another 2-3 minutes until browned but still juicy.
07 - Add onion wedges and bell pepper chunks. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until just tender but still crisp. Add spring onions and toss briefly.
08 - Transfer the stir-fried beef and vegetables onto the prepared platter with watercress and tomatoes. Serve immediately with the lime dipping sauce and steamed rice, if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The interplay of savory beef and bright lime sauce creates an addictive sweet-sour-tangy balance
  • Everything cooks in one pan faster than you can set the table
  • The presentation looks restaurant-impressive but requires zero fancy techniques
02 -
  • Do not crowd the pan or the beef will steam instead of sear
  • Let the pan get properly hot before adding any meat
  • Have everything ready before you start cooking because the stir-fry goes fast
03 -
  • Pat the beef dry before marinating if it seems wet
  • Use a wok if you have one for better heat distribution
  • Taste the lime sauce and adjust the salt to your preference

Go back