Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Printable)

Juicy marinated beef cubes stir-fried with crisp vegetables and tangy lime dipping sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1.1 lbs 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)

# Directions:

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 combination of tender seared beef with crisp vegetables creates perfect texture contrast
  • That tangy lime dipping sauce pulls everything together in ways you won't expect
  • It comes together so quickly you'll feel like a restaurant chef in your own kitchen
02 -
  • Crowding the pan will steam the beef instead of searing it, so cook in batches if necessary
  • Letting the beef marinate longer transforms it from good to absolutely incredible
  • The dipping sauce should be bold and tangy, so don't be afraid of the salt
03 -
  • Pat the beef dry before marinating for better searing
  • Room temperature beef cooks more evenly than cold straight from the fridge

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