The Best Bo Kho Recipe (Vietnamese Beef Stew)

Have you ever tasted a Vietnamese Beef Stew before? It is a mouth watering, flavorful, delicious stew. You can eat it with a French baguette, steamed rice, or noodles. It is definitely a comfort food that will warm you up in the winter. Please try making this stew because I guarantee you won't regret it.

Bo Kho Recipe
Beef Marinade (marinate for 1 hour or more)
2 pounds of beef chuck roast (cut into big chunks)
1 TB Bo Kho seasoning
1TB minced garlic
1TB minced ginger
1 ½ TB brown sugar
3 TB fish sauce

For the Stew:
3 TB oil
2 stalks of lemongrass (cut into thirds)
1 TB minced lemongrass (can be bought at Vietnamese grocery stores)
2 TB minced garlic
1 TB minced ginger
1 TB minced shallots (I forgot to add this in the video)
1 onion (sliced)
4 TB tomato paste
4 cups of beef broth
1 can of Coco Rico soda
2 star anise
1 TB Bo Kho seasoning
6-8 carrots cut up into chunks
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 TB chili oil (If you want it spicy)
Optional: Add an extra 1 TB fish sauce after you taste your stew when it's done.

1. First marinate the beef. Combine the beef with the garlic, ginger, fish sauce, bo kho seasoning, and brown sugar until each piece is evenly coated.
2. Marinate for 1 hour or more. The longer you marinate the beef, the more flavorful and tender it will be.
3. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large stock pot over high heat.
4. Add the stalks of lemongrass and allow them to infuse in the oil by stirring for 2-3 minutes.
5. Next, add the minced lemongrass, ginger, and garlic to the pot and stir.
6. Add the onions and cook until translucent.
7. Add the marinated beef chunks to the pot, and brown on all sides.
8. Add in the tomato paste and stir for 3-4 minutes.
9. Add the beef broth, Coco Rico soda, star anise, ground black pepper, and Bo Kho seasoning.
10. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 1.5 hours.
11. After 1.5 hours has passed, add in the carrots. Simmer for another 30 minutes.
12. After the 30 minutes, taste your stew and see if you need to add 1 TB fish sauce for more flavor or water if it’s too salty for your taste.
13. Your beef will be tender and the flavor of your stew is spectacular. Enjoy!