Authentic Bò Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew)
Mar 18, 2026 05:06 AM
Bò Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew with Lemongrass) is hearty, flavorful and fragrant. You can serve this classic dish of Saigon with banh mi (baguette) or noodles. My authentic recipe will guide you how to cook and enjoy it just like in Saigon.
Bò kho is an aromatic Vietnamese beef stew dish in which chunks of well-marbled beef are seared and then gently braised with lemongrass. The authentic version of this dish, which I’m sharing today, also contains carrots but no potatoes. The stew can be eaten with banh mi or noodles.
You may come across different beef stew dishes in Vietnam. This one is popular in Saigon. Fun fact: if you ask a Northerner about bo kho, many of them will think of an entirely different dish :).
Today I’m sharing with you an authentic bo kho recipe, which was given to me straight from my Saigonese chef friend. It is one of the signature beef dishes of Vietnamese cuisine.
Ingredients:
For the Beef
- 1 teaspoon annatto seeds
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 28 oz beef shank or beef chuck (or your favorite cuts for stewing)
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon non-spicy chili powder, such as paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Other Ingredients
- 5 large lemongrass stalks, bruised
- 0.7 oz shallots
- 0.5 oz garlic, lightly smacked
- 2 bay leaves
- 4-5 star anises, whole pods
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 1/2 teaspoons rock sugar, broken into small pieces
- 10.5 oz carrots, peeled and roll cut into large chunks
- 5 cups plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water, divided
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
To Serve
- thinly sliced yellow onions
- chopped scallions
- chopped cilantro
- banh mi (baguettes) or rice noodles, egg noodles
- Thai basil
- sawtooth leaves
- bird's eye chili (optional)
- lime wedges (optional)
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
135 minutes
Total Time:
150 minutes
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