Quang Nguyen of Noi Vietnamese Eatery and Devour Cafe shares this recipe for traditional bò kho, or Vietnamese beef skewers.
500g sirloin (thinly sliced)
4 cloves garlic
3 lemongrass stalks
2 shallots
30g ginger
4 cloves
4 star anise
1 cinnamon stick (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp five spice
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp of ground annatto
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2tsp white pepper
Prepare marinade by roughly chopping the garlic, lemongrass, shallots and ginger and placing in a food processor.
Add all remaining ingredients except the beef and blend into a smooth, aromatic paste.
Coat the beef in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, ideally overnight.
Thread the marinated beef slices onto skewers, folding as needed.
Grill, pan-fry, or barbecue the skewers over medium-high heat until caramelised and cooked through.
Serve the skewers hot with fresh herbs, pickles, rice noodles or steamed rice, and a wedge of lime.
This article first appeared in the January 2026 issue of SALIFE magazine.
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