Stir-fried Beef with Bamboo Shoots
This stir-fried beef with bamboo shoots is one of the popular Vietnamese homestyle beef main dishes. It can be eaten on its own or served with some steamed rice.
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 269kcal
Ingredients
- 7 oz beef, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (plus more for serving)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil (plus more for cooking)
- 12 oz fresh bamboo shoots
- 1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon fish sauce, to taste
- 1-2 scallion stalks, chopped into short pieces
- a wedge of lime (for serving)
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add beef slices, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon oil. Toss well and set aside to marinate while preparing the bamboo shoots.
- Remove fresh bamboo shoots from the package and discard liquid in the package. Rinse and then boil in plenty of water to remove strong smell and bitterness. This can take 5-10 minutes of even up to 30 minutes. Then either shred or slice into thin strips.
- Place a pan over medium-high heat and add some cooking oil to coat the bottom. Once the oil is hot, add beef slices in a single layer and let them cook undisturbed for about 20-30 seconds. Then stir-fry for a few more seconds and transfer to a plate while the beef is still slightly pink.
- Return the pan to medium heat and add some more oil. Sauté the remaining garlic briefly until fragrant. Then add the shredded bamboo shoots. Stir and cook for a minute.
- Add the remaining salt, oyster sauce and soy sauce. Stir and cook the bamboo shoots for another 3-4 minutes until they have absorbed the seasonings and become flavorful.
- Add the beef back to the pan. Add the fish sauce and stir everything thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
- Stir in chopped scallion and some more black pepper. Give everything a quick toss and then transfer to a serving plate. Squeeze some lime juice over the dish if desired and serve right away.
Notes
- The packaged fresh bamboo shoots sold at grocery stores like the one I buy are often pre-boiled and packed in liquid. However, I still recommend rinsing and boiling them before using.
- You can use flank steak, sirloin or other beef cuts for stir-fries that you like. Just make sure you slice it thinly against the grain.
- When marinating the beef, you can take an optional step by adding a bit of cornstarch and water to give the beef a juicier and more velvety texture. For 7 oz (200g) beef, mix with ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Then toss with 1 teaspoon cooking oil. Set aside to marinate.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 1290mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 99IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg