Drakes Vietnamese Inflected Beef Risoto Recipes

BO KHO: SPICY VIETNAMESE BEEF STEW WITH NOODLES

Steps:

• First marinate the beef. Combine the beef with the garlic, ginger, fish sauce, five-spice powder, and brown sugar until each piece is evenly coated. Marinate for 30 minutes.
• Next, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Add the stalks of lemongrass and allow them to infuse the oil for 1 minute. Next, add the minced lemongrass and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the onions and cook until translucent. Then add all of the beef to the pot, and brown evenly on all sides. Add the tomato paste.
• Stir and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the water, coconut water, star anise, ground black pepper, chili powder, annatto, and paprika. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
• After an hour has passed, add the carrots, salt, soy sauce, and chili oil. Simmer for another 40 minutes.
• To serve, remove the large lemongrass stalks and any star anise pods you can fish out. Cook your noodles per package instructions, transfer to bowls, and ladle the soup over the top.
• Garnish with cilantro, Thai basil, and raw onion, and serve with some lime wedges on the side.

THE BEST RISOTTO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the olive oil in another medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 10 grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves and 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until the butter has melted, about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and toast, stirring only once, until it smells nutty and starts to turn light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has evaporated completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle one cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center).
• Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. (You may have a little stock left over. If so, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) If you prefer your risotto on the saucier side, add more stock 1/4 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper and serve with more Parmesan, if desired.

SHAKING BEEF

Steps:

• Marinate meat with garlic, half the sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1 tablespoon oil for about 2 hours. (Refrigerate if your kitchen is very warm.) Meanwhile, combine vinegar, remaining sugar, wine, soy sauce and fish sauce. Taste, and add salt and pepper if necessary. Mix about 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.
• Divide the meat into 2 portions, and do the same with the onion and scallions. Put a wok or a large skillet over maximum heat, and add about 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil smokes, add the meat in one layer. Let it sit until a brown crust forms, and turn to brown the other side. Browning should take less than 5 minutes. Add half the onion and half the scallions, and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add about half the vinegar mixture, and shake pan to release the beef, stirring if necessary. Add half the butter, and shake pan until butter melts. Remove meat, and repeat.
• Serve beef over watercress or lettuce leaves, passing salt and pepper mixture and lime wedges at the table.

CARAMELISED VIETNAMESE SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• Mix Marinade in a bowl.
• Add shredded beef and mix. Set aside 5 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add about half the beef and spread out in single layer.
• Leave undisturbed until golden (about 1 minute). Flip then cook the other side just briefly (about 30 seconds) just to heat and get a touch of golden, then remove.
• Repeat with remaining beef.
• Serve over rice, using either limes or Nuoc Cham as the sauce, and garnishes of choice (I used them all in the photos!)

DRAKE'S VIETNAMESE-INFLECTED BEEF RISOTO

Steps:

• Sear beef in a little olive oil on medium high heat in large pan, searing all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Soften onions in beef juices, 5 minutes. Add rice and sautée for 2 minutes; then gradually stir in broth and coconut milk, 1 cup at a time, allowing rice to absorb liquid, while adding additional ingredients. Simmer until rice is tender, about 25 to 35 minutes. Garnish with cilantro leaves and/or lime wedges.

GROUND BEEF RISOTTO

Steps:

• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef, onion, garlic and pepper over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain if desired. Stir in rice; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Stir in broth; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in carrot. Cook uncovered 5 to 7 minutes longer or until liquid is absorbed.
• Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cheese. Cover; let stand 3 minutes. Sprinkle with chives.