Beef Lok Lak Recipe

Beef lok lak is a renowned Khmer dish that has gained popularity among tourists visiting Cambodia. While the exact origins of beef lok lak in Cambodia remain uncertain, it is believed that this dish emerged from Vietnam during the French colonial period, making it relatively newer compared to the traditional fish amok recipe.

“Lok lak,” which translates to “shaked beef”(Vietnamese: bò lúc lắc), drawing an analogy to the cook’s skillful manipulation of his wok to ensure that all sides of the sliced beef are perfectly cooked.

It is a simple but still elegant preparation that showcases the delicate balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.

Kampot pepper, is preferred for its  fragrance but regular black pepper can be used in this recipe as well. Rib eye or sirloin can be used instead of  tenderloin.

Several variations of beef lok lok recipes can be found, using tomatoes or not. The Vietnamese version of beef lok lak used beef cut as dices instead of stripes.

• 200 gr of beef tenderloin
• Marinated sauce made of:
  1 tbsp of light soya sauce
  2 tbsp of oyster sauce
  1 ½ tsp tomato sauce
  1 tsp sugar
  1 tsp ground black pepper
  1tsp fish sauce
  2 glove garlic (chopped)
  2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tomato sliced
• ½ onion slice
• 3 pcs lettuce leaf
• Steamed rice
• Dipping sauce made of:
  1 lime juice
  2 tsp of ground black pepper
  1 tsp salt
  1 tbsp of water

Beef lok lak is a quite straighforwarding recipe. One of the key element is to marinated the beef and using a wok to sear the meat.

1. Slice the beef into  thin stripes
2. Prepare first the marinated sauce by adding in a bowl soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, black pepper, and minced garlic. Mix well
3. Add the beef slices to the sauce and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes
4. Heat a large wok over high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated beef and moving aound the wok energetically, sear the beef for about 1-2 minutes per side, until it is cooked to your desired level of doneness (rare, medium, well done).
5. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside.
6. Using the same wok. add the thinly sliced onions and cook for 1-2 minutes until they become translucent and slightly caramelized.
7.  Prepare the lime pepper dipping sauce by mixing a small container freshly ground black pepper, salt and fresh lime juice.
   5. Decorate the two plate with lettuce, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and spread the cooked beef evenly.

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