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a bowl of bún bò Nam Bộ (Vietnamese beef noodle salad).
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4.70 from 10 votes

Bún Bò Nam Bộ (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad)

Bún Bò Nam Bộ (Vietnamese beef noodle salad, also called bún bò xào) is packed with fresh herbs, flavorful beef, and refreshing lime fish sauce dressing. It is easy to make, and you can enjoy it either as a main or side dish.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizers and Side dishes, Main Dish, Noodle and Soup, Salad
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: beef noodle salad, bun bo xao
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 653kcal
Author: Sophie Pham

Ingredients

For the beef

For the lime fish sauce dressing (adjust to taste)

  • 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 juicy lime)
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2-3 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-2 teaspoons minced garlic

For serving

  • rice vermicelli noodles, prepared according to package instructions
  • lettuce or micro greens
  • bean sprouts
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 1 cucumber, julienned
  • cilantro, roughly chopped
  • mint
  • fried shallots
  • roasted peanuts
US Customary - Grams

Instructions

  • Slice beef thinly against the grain and marinate with oyster sauce, black pepper, garlic, for 15-20 minutes if you have time.
  • Whisk together all ingredients to make the dressing and set aside. Adjust to taste.
  • Prepare all the veggies: wash lettuce, micro greens and bean sprouts. Wash, peel and julienne carrot and cucumber. Prepare all the herbs.
    Fresh veggies and herbs for Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad: lettuce, carrot, cucumber and bean sprouts.
  • Place noodles in serving bowls and top with veggies and herbs.
  • Place a pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add oil. Once the oil is hot, Add lemongrass and stir-fry for 30-40 seconds until lemongrass is fragrant and reduces in volume.
  • Increase the heat slightly and add beef to the pan in one single layer and let it cook undisturbed for 20-30 seconds. Add fish sauce and stir-fry until just cooked through. Taste and add more seasonings if needed. Work in small batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan.
    beef slices being seared in the skillet
  • Place the cooked beef over noodles and top with fried shallots and roasted peanuts. Drizzle dressing and serve. It is often good to start with a small amount of dressing and taste to see if you want to add more.
    Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad (Bun Bo Xao) is healthy and tasty with flavorful beef, fresh herbs and veggies. This simple noodle dish can be either a main or side dish.

Notes

  • The dish will still turn out delicious without lemongrass in case you cannot find this ingredient.
  • To enjoy the beef noodle salad warm, prepare everything else before stir-frying the beef. The noodles can be warmed up by running them through hot water very briefly. To warm up the dressing, you can microwave it for about 30 seconds. Put the noodles, veggies and herbs in the serving bowls, and then stir-fry the beef.
  • Work in small batches when stir-frying the beef if needed. I stir-fry 1 lb of beef in 2-3 batches.
  • The recipe is enough for 2-3 people eating it as a main dish. If you serve it as a side dish, it is enough for 4 people.

Nutrition

Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 2314mg | Potassium: 1005mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5203IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 5mg