Today I want to share a very tasty Bo Luc Lac - Vietnamese Shaking Beef recipe with you. This shaking beef is one of the most popular menu items that you would find at Vietnamese restaurants. It's loaded with sweet and savory flavors, yet, it's so easy to make. It's the perfect dish to make on special nights.
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What is Bo Luc Lac?
Bò Lúc Lắc is a famous Vietnamese beef stir fry. In the Vietnamese language, bo means beef, and Lúc Lắc means shaken.
Shaking beef gets its name from the shaking and stirring technique used during cooking.
This special technique helps develop evenly browning on all sides of the meat while keeping it juicy on the inside. It also helps deglaze the pan.
This main dish contains stir-fried cubes of marinated beef and is served on a hot plate over fresh watercress with a bowl of rice.
About This Bo Luc Lac Recipe:
This shaking beef recipe requires a short marinating process to enhance the flavor. In addition, letting the meat sit at room temperature before cooking will produce juicier and more evenly cooked meat.
After marinating for 30 minutes. you should cook the meat on high heat for a short period of time, then stir-fry the remaining ingredients in the sauce.
The Best Meat to Use for Vietnamese Shaking Beef
You may use any type of tender beef cut to make shaking beef. Expensive beef fillets such as rib-eye will be extremely tasty, but a cheaper cut like flank steak or sirloin strip will also taste great.
Here are some tender beef cuts that can be cut and used in stir fry recipes: sirloin, ribeye, top loin, tenderloin, shoulder top blade (flat iron, or shoulder center (Ranch steak).
Don't buy pre-cut stir fry meat. I highly recommend buying the beef in bulk so you can then cut the beef yourself and save money.
Bò Lúc Lắc Ingredients and Variations
To make shaking beef at home, you will need beef, diced red bell pepper, diced yellow onion, oyster sauce, low-sodium soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, fish sauce, black pepper, and fresh watercress.
Fish Sauce: If it's not available in your pantry, you can use soy sauce instead of fish sauce (2:1 ratio).
How to Make Shaking Beef at Home:
Step 1. Make the Marinade Sauce
In a small bowl, mix sugar, fish sauce, low-sodium soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir to combine. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of marinade sauce for stir fry.
Step 2. Marinate the Beef Cubes
In a large bowl, add beef cubes, minced garlic, and marinade sauce. Stir to combine. Marinate the meat for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Step 3. Sear the Beef
In a large wok, heat about ½ cup of oil over high heat until beginning to smoke.
Cook half of the marinated beef until slightly charred on all sides and medium-rare inside for about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 4. Cook the Vegetables
- In a clean wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over high heat until beginning to smoke. Add diced yellow onion, cook, and keep stirring for 1 minute.
- Cook diced red bell pepper and keep stirring for 1 minute.
- Add the seared beef and 1 tablespoon of marinade sauce. Cook and stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened for about 3-5 minutes. Do not overcook the meat.
Tips for Making a Good Stir Fry
Tips #1. Prepare All the Ingredients
Stir-frying is a quick process so you need your ingredients close-at-hand and ready to go. It's therefore important to set out all of your ingredients before you turn on the heat, in order to prevent burning or over cooking.
Tips #2. Marinade the Meat
Most cuts of beef benefit from being marinated. A marinade adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat.
Tips #3. Remove Excess Water from Ingredients
Make sure that you pat vegetables or meat dry before adding them into a wok.
Tips #3. Pick the Right Skillet
If you don't have a wok you can use a cast-iron skillet instead. A cast-iron skillet can retain just as much heat as a wok, which makes it a perfect substitution for wok.
Tips #4. Cook on High Heat
Cooking on high heat is crucial. Commercial ranges come with burners that generate heat levels much stronger than even the best home range.
Tips #5. Cook the Vegetables and Meat separately
Tips #6. Do Not Overcrowd the Pan
Choose the right size of skillet to do the job. Do not put too many ingredients in the wok to avoid steaming and uneven cooking.
If you need to double the recipe, cook in multiple batches.
Tips #6. Keep Stirring
Keep stirring the food to avoid burning and uneven cooking.
FAQ and Cooking Tips:
First, let the leftover Bò Lúc Lắc - Vietnamese Shaking Beef cool down before transferring it to an airtight container.
Properly stored, it will last 1-2 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
You can reheat the leftover beef stir fry, covered with a microwave-safe lid for up to 2 minutes in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat to avoid overcooking. It's important to reheat leftovers to 165°F.
You can use sirloin, ribeye, top loin, tenderloin, shoulder top blade (flat iron, or shoulder center (Ranch steak).
Check Out More Asian Recipes:
📖 Recipe
Bo Luc Lac
Ingredients
- 1¾ pound rib-eye or top sirloin steak , (trimmed, cut into 1½-inch cubes, and pat dry)
- 1 cup diced red bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable, peanut, or canola oil
Marinade Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, (add more according to your liking)
- ½ tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sugar, (use more or less sugar according to your liking)
For Serving:
- fresh watercress
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the marinade sauce ingredients. Reserve 1 tablespoon of marinade sauce for stir fry.
- In a large bowl, add beef cubes, garlic, black pepper, and marinade sauce. Stir to combine and marinate for 30-60 minutes at room temperature.
- In a large wok or cast-iron, heat ½ cup of oil over high heat until beginning to smoke. Working in multiple batches, cook the beef until slightly charred on all sides and medium-rare inside for about 1 minute.Transfer the seared beef to a plate.
- In a clean wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over high heat. Add yellow onion, cook, and, keep stirring for about 1 minute. Add red bell pepper, cook, and keep stirring until tender and slightly charred for about 1 minute. Add seared beef and 1 tablespoon of marinade sauce. Cook and keep stirring until the sauce has thickened and starts to caramelize for about 3-5 minutes. Do not overcook the meat. Taste the meat, adjust the seasoning with extra oyster sauce or salt if needed.
- Arrange the shaking beef on the bed of watercress. Serve and enjoy with white rice.
Video
Notes
Properly stored, it will last 1-2 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Biana says
This Beef Stir Fry looks so colorful and delicious! Will be making it soon, with the flavorful marinade.
Carrie Robinson says
This looks and sounds so flavorful! I will have to try this recipe soon. 🙂
Alex says
I love that you shared the meaning behind the dish's name too. I would have never guessed that the name referred to the cooking method!
Rika says
Thanks, Alex 🙂
Amber Myers says
This looks like a flavorful dish! I'll keep it in mind when we want to try something new. Looks delish!
Michelle says
Your photos are gorgeous and are making my mouth water. I have to try this!
Rika says
Thanks, Michelle!
Cyndy says
Oh, this is one of my all time favorite! I have never made it at home and you have done such a good job of explaining everything. Thanks for the great recipe.
Rika says
You're welcome, Cyndy!
Nikki Wayne says
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Rika says
You're welcome, Nikki.
Bri says
I've never heard of this dish before but now I'm sitting here with my mouth watering! Trying soon!
Tasheena says
Looking forward to making this recipe for my family.
Rika says
Great! Let me know what you think about it, Tasheena.
Kathy says
I've never heard of this before. This recipe looks amazing though. I may need to give this a try.
Rika says
Let me know how it goes, Kathy!