Bò Tái Chanh Recipe: Your Easy Guide to Homemade Vietnamese Rare Beef Salad

Bò Tái Chanh is a mouthwatering Vietnamese appetizer that combines the fresh flavor of raw beef slices with a zesty dressing. Continue reading to learn how to make the refreshing dish in 6 simple steps.

Bò Tái Chanh is an appetizer/salad that encapsulates the bursting flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. It consists of raw and tender beef strips, a tangy lemon dressing, and a bunch of fresh herbs and other ingredients.

While the dish is considered to be Vietnamese, it was inspired by traditional meals from neighboring countries and became very popular. So much so that it is enjoyed around the world, and now you can enjoy it too. Here's a Bò Tái Chanh recipe you can try at home.

Bò Tái Chanh Recipe

As Bò Tái Chanh is a raw appetizer, it requires very little preparation time and yet is filled with flavor. Follow this easy recipe to replicate it at home:

Ingredients for Dressing:

• 1 cup coconut water
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Son fish sauce
• 2 tsp chopped Thai chili
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp minced shallot
• 2 tsp sambal (fermented chili paste)
• 3 tbsp organic sugar

Beef and garnishes:

• 8 oz sirloin beef flap (or filet mignon)
• 1 tbsp fried shallot
• 1 tbsp fried garlic
• 1 tbsp sliced scallions
• ⅛ cup cilantro
• ⅛ cup mint
• ⅛ cup Julienne Red Radish

Directions:

1. To make the dressing, place the minced Thai chili, garlic, and shallots in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Next, add the sambal, lemon juice, coconut water, and Son fish sauce to the bowl, seasoning it with the organic sugar. Lastly, mix the dressing until all the ingredients are mixed well.

When mixing the dressing, ensure you stir until all the ingredients are well mixed. | Source: YouTube/RunAwayRice

3. For your meat, thinly slice the sirloin beef flap or filet mignon across the grain as thinly as possible.

4. Lay the thin slices of beef beside each other and cover them with plastic wrap. Then use a rolling pin — or any other kitchen utensil if you do not have a rolling pin — to tenderize the meat by gently tapping it.

When tenderizing the beef, you can use any other suitable kitchen utensil if you do not have a rolling pin. | Source: YouTube/RunAwayRice

6. Next, garnish the beef with scallions, mint, cilantro, fried garlic, and fried shallot before topping it all off with the delicious tangy dressing.

Now that you know how to make Bò tái chanh, you can whip up this refreshing salad perfect to impress a crowd or for a meal for one. If you would like to test your culinary skills with another Asian dish, here is a Chinese Malatang recipe perfect for colder weather.