When I was gifted four beautiful steaks this past Christmas, I briefly considered wrapping the fillets in bacon or chopping them coarsely for a tartare. But when it came down to it, The Astronomer and I both desired Vietnamese food, so “shaking beef” ultimately and unsurprisingly won out.

Since my family does not have a go-to recipe for bò lúc lắc, I turned to Chef Charles Phan of San Francisco’s The Slanted Door to guide me through the process. You could say that he’s got a way with shaking beef. 

Traditionally, this dish is prepared in a seasoned wok over a flame, which imparts an intense sear on the beef and cooks the entire dish with a flick (or two) of the wrist.

This pared down recipe caters to the home cook and yields immense reward for very little effort. While using a saute pan on an electric stove offers significantly fewer BTUs, the results were most satisfactory. We’ll be making this recipe again and again.

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds beef tenderloin (filet mignon), trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Salt and pepper
• 5 tablespoons neutral oil, like corn or canola
• 1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup rice or white wine
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 red onion, peeled and sliced thin
• 3 scallions, trimmed and cut in 1-inch lengths
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 bunches watercress, washed and dried, or 1 head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried and separated into leaves
• 2 limes, cut into wedges

Marinate meat with garlic, half the sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1 tablespoon oil for about 2 hours at room temperature. (Refrigerate if your kitchen is very warm.)

Meanwhile, combine vinegar, remaining sugar, wine, soy sauce and fish sauce. Taste, and add salt and pepper if necessary. Mix about 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.

Divide the meat into 2 portions, and do the same with the onion and scallions. Put a wok or a large skillet over maximum heat, and add about 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil smokes, add the meat in one layer. Let it sit until a brown crust forms, and turn to brown the other side. Browning should take less than 5 minutes.

Add half the onion and half the scallions, and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add about half the vinegar mixture, and shake pan to release the beef, stirring if necessary. Add half the butter, and shake pan until butter melts. Remove meat, and repeat.

Serve beef over watercress or lettuce leaves, passing salt and pepper mixture and lime wedges at the table.

Serves 4.

Recipe by adapted from Charles Phan by the New York Times.

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Mmm…Vietnamese food:

• Bánh Bột Lọc – Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumplings
• Bánh Cuốn – Vietnamese Rice Crepes with Ground Pork and Mushrooms
• Bánh Giò – Minced Pork and Rice Dumplings
• Bánh Mì Tôm Chiên – Shrimp Toasts
• Bắp Xào Tôm Bơ – Vietnamese Sauteed Corn with Dried Shrimp, Scallions, and Butter
• Bò Bía – Vietnamese Jicama, Carrot, Chinese Sausage, Egg, and Dried Shrimp Rolls
• Bò Kho – Vietnamese Beef Stew
• Bún Riêu Cua – Vietnamese Crab and Tomato Soup
• Cà Dê Nướng – Roasted Eggplant with Soy Sauce and Chilies
• Cà Ri Gà – Vietnamese Chicken Curry
• Canh Chua Chay – Vegetarian Sour Soup
• Chả Giò – Vietnamese Egg Rolls
• Cháo Cá – Vietnamese Fish Porridge
• Cháo Chả – Porridge with Braised Pork Sausage
• Cơm Chiên – Vietnamese Fried Rice
• Đậu Hũ Kho – Braised Tofu with Mushrooms and Tomatoes
• Đậu Hủ Xả Ớt – Fried Tofu with Chilies and Lemongrass
• Gỏi Cuốn – Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Rolls with Hoisin Dipping Sauce
• Hủ Tiếu Mì – Vietnamese Pork Noodle Soup
• Mì Cà Ri Gà – Chicken Curry with Fresh Egg Noodles
• Mom’s Lollipop Fried Chicken
• Nui Lòng – Grandpa’s Spaghetti with Offal
• Nước Chấm – Vietnamese Fish Sauce Vinaigrette
• Nước Chấm Chay – Vegetarian Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
• Pasta with Eggs and Pork Floss
• Phở Bò – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
• Phở Chay – Vegetarian Phở
• Sườn Nướng – Vietnamese Grilled Pork Ribs
• Tết 2013: Not Your Grandma’s Bánh Chưng
• Thịt Bò Xào Hành Tây – Vietnamese Stir-Fried Beef with Onions
• Thịt Kho – Caramelized Braised Pork and Eggs
• Thịt Nướng – Vietnamese Grilled Pork
• Vietnamese Chicken Curry Pot Pie