fe... fi... pho... yum!

Pho Noodles

http://newasiancuisine.com/6870-barbecued-lemongrass-beef.html

When we lived in Calgary and money was tight...( when is it not!) our date night dinners where usually at the little Vietnamese shack close to our house where we ate this amazing dinner for super cheap!  Living out of the city has forced me to learn how to make my favourites. We just finished eating this delightful dinner and it tasted just like the restaurant version.   We made ours with chicken - I'm cutting down our red meat consumption.

Don't forget to add a little hoi sin sauce!

I also don't follow directions very well, so I didn't marinate for 1 hour.

From http://newasiancuisine.com/6870-barbecued-lemongrass-beef.html

Serves 6
Preparation time: 45 mins + 1 hour to marinate
Cooking time: 15 mins

1 lb (500 g) beef sirloin, flank steak or top round, sliced into thin strips
12 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 1 hour before using
1 tablespoon oil, for brushing
7 oz (200 g) dried rice vermicelli, blanched for 1 to 2 minutes until soft, then rinse with cold water and drained
1/2 head lettuce, leaves washed and separated
1 medium cucumber, deseeded and cut into matchsticks
2 cups (31/2 oz/100 g) bean sprouts, seed coats and tails removed
Sprigs of mint leaves
Sprigs of coriander leaves (cilantro)
1 small carrot, cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup (50 g) roasted unsalted peanuts, crushed
1 portion Fish Sauce Dip

Marinade
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic
2 stalks lemongrass, thick bottom part only, outer layers discarded, inner part sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry
powder (optional)
1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 Make the Marinade first by grinding the onion, garlic and lemongrass to a smooth paste in a blender. Add all the other ingredients and mix until well blended. Transfer the Marinade to a large bowl, place the beef in the Marinade and mix until well coated. Allow to marinate for 1 hour.

2 Prepare the Fish Sauce Dip

3 Thread the marinated beef strips onto the bamboo skewers and brush with a little oil, then grill on a pan grill or under a preheated broiler, basting with the Marinade, until just cooked, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

4 To serve, place the rice vermicelli into individual serving bowls and top with the grilled beef, lettuce leaves, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint leaves, coriander leaves (cilantro) and carrot. Sprinkle with crushed peanuts and serve immediately with a bowl of Fish Sauce Dip on the side.

Dress and toss this dish well with 2 tablespoons of Fish Sauce Dip before eating it.

Fish Sauce Dip (Nuoc Cham)

By Periplus Editors, Vietnamese Cooking Made Easy: Simple, Flavorful and Quick Meals

Yields 1 cup (250 ml)
Preparation time: 10 mins

2 to 3 finger-length chilies, deseeded and sliced
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon vinegar
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
1/2 teaspoon salt

Grind the chilies and garlic to a coarse paste in a mortar or blender, then combine with all the other ingredients and mix until the sugar is dissolved.