5.0 from 9 votes
Bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew)
Bo kho may be less well known than pho, but it's one delicious beef stew packed with wonderful aromatic flavor.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 4 (approx)
Calories: 219 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Vietnamese
Ingredients
- 1.3 lb beef shank 600g, approx 1lb 5oz off bone (I had 2lb on bone)
- 2 tablespoon ginger
- 1 clove garlic (large)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tick lemongrass (or 2 if small)
- 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil or a little more, as needed
- ½ onion (med-large)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 star anise
- 1 ½ cups coconut water 360ml
- 1 ½ cups beef stock 360ml, or water if adding beef bones
- 2 carrots chopped
Instructions
- Dice the beef into bite-sized pieces, trimming any excess fat or larger sinew.
- Mix the beef in a bowl with finely chopped/grated ginger and garlic, Chinese five spice and fish sauce. Set aside for around 30 mins.
- Meanwhile, peel and cut the carrots into large chunks and slice the onions. Cut the lemongrass in to two or three lengths and split them down the middle.
- Warm around half the oil in a Dutch oven and cook the lemongrass a minute to bring out the flavor. Remove and set aside.
- Brown the meat on all sides in batches, removing as they are done.
- Soften the onion, then return the beef and lemongrass to the pot.
- Add the pepper, paprika and tomato paste, cook a minute then add the coconut water and broth (or water and bones).
- Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 2 hours in total, adding the carrots after around 1 ½ hours. Remove the whole star anise and lemongrass before serving.
- You can serve the stew as it is, over rice, noodles (rice or egg), or with crusty bread.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you want this as a one-pot stew, you can also add some small or diced potatoes along with the carrots. The stew works well reheated the next day.
Nutrition Information
Calories
219kcal
(11%)
Carbohydrates
11g
(4%)
Protein
23g
(46%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Cholesterol
34mg
(11%)
Sodium
1075mg
(45%)
Potassium
936mg
(27%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
5270IU
(105%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
73mg
(7%)
Iron
3.4mg
(19%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4(approx)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 219
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 219kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 23g | 46% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 34mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 1075mg | 45% |
| Potassium | 936mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 5270IU | 105% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 73mg | 7% |
| Iron | 3.4mg | 19% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.