Lemongrass Ground Beef Skewers Recipes

HUE LEMONGRASS SKEWERS: NEM LUI HUE

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, minced pork, pork skin, pork fat, garlic, shallots, sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and fish sauce. Knead for 5 minutes until all ingredients are well combined. Cover, then refrigerate 1 hour for the flavours to develop. Heat a barbecue grill or char grill pan. With wet hands, divide the mixture into 12 even portions and roll each portion into a sausage shape. Thread the beef sausages onto each lemongrass stick and brush with a little oil. Place on the hot grill and cook the beef skewers for 6 minutes, turning every few minutes, until cooked. Remove the meat from the lemongrass skewers, and distribute 2 skewers per baguette. Spread 1/2 teaspoon each chile sauce and hoisin sauce into each baguette.

BEEF AND LEMONGRASS SKEWERS CAMBODIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Slice beef into long thin strips 1/8 inch by 1 inch by 5 inches long.
• Combine the garlic, lemongrass, coriander, sugar and fish sauce in a mortar and pestle until mixture is a paste. Use a blender or food processor if you have to. Marinate meat for 12 to 24 hours in this mixture.
• Make Peanut Sauce: Heat the oil in a small pan and add the garlic, chili paste and tomato paste. Fry until the garlic turns light golden brown. Add the broth, peanut butter, hoisin and sugar, and simmer for 3 minutes. Cool and add the peanuts and chilies. Set aside.
• Thread beef onto skewers, grill briefly to medium rare over high direct heat and serve with the sauce for dipping, garnishing with the nuts.

GRILLED LEMONGRASS BEEF SKEWERS

Steps:

• To make the marinade, combine the shallot, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a mortar and pound into a rough paste. (Or, use an electric mini-chopper.) Transfer to a bowl, add the shrimp sauce, fish sauce, oil, lemongrass, and sesame seeds, and stir to mix. Set aside.
• If you have time, place the beef in the freezer for about 15 minutes. It will firm up, making it easier to cut. Slice the beef across the grain into thin strips a scant 1/4 inch thick, about 1 inch wide, and 2 to 3 inches long. (You may need to angle the knife to yield strips that are wide enough.)
• Add the beef to the marinade and use your fingers to combine, making sure that each strip is coated on both sides. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. (For more tender meat, marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to skewering.) Meanwhile, soak 24 to 30 bamboo skewers, each 8 to 10 inches long, in water to cover for at least 45 minutes.
• To grill the beef, prepare a medium-low charcoal fire (you can hold your hand over the rack for no more than 5 or 6 seconds) or preheat a gas grill to medium-low. To broil the beef, position a rack about 4 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven for 20 minutes so it is nice and hot.
• While the grill or broiler heats, drain the skewers and thread the beef onto them, putting 1 or 2 strips on each skewer. If you are broiling, put the skewers on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Place the skewers on the grill rack or slip the baking sheet under the broiler. Grill or broil, turning the skewers once, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the beef is browned and a little charred at the edge.
• Arrange the skewers on a platter and serve at once with the sauce on the side. Diners can dip the skewers in the sauce or spoon the sauce onto the skewers.