Shaking Beef

Name: Shaking Beef
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce, plus more to taste; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 teaspoon fish sauce; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 garlic cloves, smashed; 1 1/2 pounds boneless rib eye steak or New York strip steak, trimmed and cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces; 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion or shallot; 2 tablespoons water; 1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar; 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar or honey; 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 4 cups lightly packed watercress, baby arugula, or other salad greens; 1 cup torn radicchio or 8 halved cherry tomatoes; 1/4 cup fresh mint, basil, or other herb leaves, torn; 2 tablespoons canola oil or other neutral oil (such as grapeseed)

5.0

(2)

2 Reviews

Meat is precious and Buddhist traditions are strong in Vietnam, which is why dishes of beef are considered a luxury. Clever cooks cut tender, marbled cuts into small pieces so they soak up flavor, then cook them quickly and serve them hot with aromatic herbs. Here, the peppery, salty-sweet, juicy beef mingles with the light salad dressing to create a great sauce that pools on the platter, perfect for drizzling over rice. Watercress leaves warm and wilt under the Shaking Beef (so named for the back-and-forth shaking of the pan), while their stems remain crunchy. In the summer, sub cherry tomatoes for the radicchio. For a stunning appetizer, serve the sautéed beef with some fresh herbs and toothpicks for easy sharing.

By

Andrea Nguyen

Published on January 7, 2019

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

4

Ingredients

Beef

1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 1/2 pounds boneless rib eye steak or New York strip steak, trimmed and cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces

Salad

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion or shallot
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar or honey
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups lightly packed watercress, baby arugula, or other salad greens
1 cup torn radicchio or 8 halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh mint, basil, or other herb leaves, torn
2 tablespoons canola oil or other neutral oil (such as grapeseed)

Directions

Make the beef

Stir together oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, cornstarch, fish sauce, pepper, and garlic in a medium bowl. If a saltier finish is desired, add up to 1 1/2 teaspoons more oyster sauce. Add beef, toss well to coat, and let marinate 20 minutes at room temperature.

Make the salad

Rinse onions in a strainer under cold running water for about 10 seconds; set aside. Whisk together 2 tablespoons water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved. Add onion; top with watercress, radicchio, and herbs. Do not toss.
Heat a large, heavy skillet over high, and add oil. When oil is shimmering, carefully add beef in a single layer. Cook, shaking pan every 30 to 60 seconds, until seared on all sides and meat reaches desired degree of doneness, 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare. Remove from heat. Quickly toss salad, and transfer to a platter or serving dish. Pile cooked beef and juices on salad, and serve immediately.

Greg DuPree