Shaking Beef [Bò Lúc Lắc]

Shaking Beef (Vietnamese: Bò Lúc Lắc, French: bœuf lôc lac) or beef lok lak (Khmer: ឡុកឡាក់សាច់គោ, lok lak sach kor) consists of marinated beef cubes seared in a wok. Seasonings are regional but often reflect the diasporas found in, and around the Mekong Delta. Mekong Delta is a river that runs through Western China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and last Vietnam before ending its river’s journey in the South China Sea. And Historically, the Mekong Delta was the pinnacle of the east of the Silk Road. As a result, the abundance of foreign ingredients [Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce, Ginger, Garlic, etc.] is reflected in Bò Lúc Lắc. There are many different variations of this dish, and of course, they vary by region. However, this is my favorite iteration of it. Bò Lúc Lắc is traditionally served with cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion over rice. And reserved for the most celebratory occasions because, for the longest time, it was considered a luxury item; even a taboo in parts of its history.