Bo kho Vietnamese beef stew
A fragrant beef and carrot stew with lemongrass, star anise and tomato, served with rice noodles.
- Time2 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.34 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a heavy pan over a high heat. Brown the beef in two batches for 4 minutes each. Lift out onto a plate.
8 min - 2
Lower the heat, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic, lemongrass, five spice, star anise and cinnamon and cook for 1 minute until it smells warm and spicy.
5 min - 3
Stir in the tomato purée and fish sauce, then return the beef. Add the water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer very gently for 1 hour 15 minutes.
75 min - 4
Add the carrots and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
30 min - 5
Cook the noodles following the packet instructions, then drain.
- 6
Fish out the lemongrass and spices. Serve the stew over the noodles with a squeeze of lime and the coriander.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.