Image Credit to: Erika Schultz
7 Beef Dishes or in Vietnamese is called Bo bay mon, literally translates into 7 types of beef dishes. The entire meal stars the key ingredient, beef and is served in seven differently prepared dishes that have various flavours and textures.
This type of meal is suitable for adventurous foodies as there are methods that may not be familiar. However, the servings are large with succulent meat and fresh vegetables that is guaranteed to satisfy a group of people.The process of preparing this meal can be quite difficult and time-consuming as 7 dishes are required.
Exploring each dish in these 7 Beef Dishes will give you a clear idea of what ingredients and cooking methods are required. Impress people by serving 7 Beef Dishes or just enjoy any of the dishes for a simple meal.
1. Special beef salad (Goi Bo Anh Hong)
This is the first dish and serves as an appetiser. The boiled beef is thinly sliced, mixed with fresh vegetables such as carrots, coriander, onions, and sprinkled with peanuts. It is usually eaten with fish sauce or lemon dressing as it is quite bland by itself.
2. Thinly sliced raw beef with special vinegar broth (Bo Nhung Dam)
Like a small hot pot, simmering vinegar broth with slices of raw beef is served. The raw beef is very thinly sliced and only needs to be dipped into the broth for 5 seconds to cook it. At the same time, the spring rolls ingredients such as dry rice paper, a bowl of warm water, and fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts, cucumbers, shredded carrots, mint, basil leaves are given. The dipping sauce that usually provided is Nuoc Mam (fish sauce) with chillies. This dish can be eaten with spring rolls.
The next four courses were usually served in a single plate. It can be consumed together with spring rolls or by its own.
3. Vietnamese beef meatloaf (Bo Cha Dum)
It is a steamed meatloaf that mixed with nuts, mushrooms, and seasonings. It usually served in a big ball and eaten with spring rolls.
4. Grilled beef sausage (Bo Mo Chai)
This is a juicy and flavourful sausage with several spices that gives a fragrant smell. The meat is succulent with adequate seasonings and great to be rolled into spring rolls.
5. Grilled beef wrapped in Hawaiian Lot leaf/ betel leaf (Bo La Lot)
This is a minced beef mixed with peanuts, onion, garlic, and spices which are wrapped in betel leaf, and then grilled over the charcoal.
6. Grilled beef with lemongrass (Bo Nuong Xa)
The slices of beef are marinated with lemongrass and onion. It is skewered or wrapped around lemongrass, and then grilled over charcoal. The beef is chewy and aromatic.
Lastly, the last dish of the 7 beef dishes.
7. Beef rice porridge (Chao Thit Bo)
This is a Vietnamese version of rice porridge which serves to settle the stomach after the six hearty courses. It is made from ground beef with a handful of rice just to thicken the broth. Spices such as ginger, coriander, and black pepper were used for a flavourful porridge.