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Photograph of the finished Beef Braised in Coconut Water

Vietnam · Bò kho nước dừa

Beef Braised in Coconut Water

2 hr 20 min Hands-on time + 30 min soaking or marinating first
MediumDifficulty
6 stepsSteps

Method

  1. 1 Cut the beef into 4 cm cubes, then marinate with fish sauce, chopped lemongrass, and shallots for 30 minutes.
  2. 2 Pan-fry the beef block for 5 minutes until the outside is dark brown.
  3. 3 Dry-roast the cinnamon sticks and star anise for 40 seconds, then add them to the pot with the beef.
  4. 4 Pour in fresh coconut water to completely replace the regular water and simmer over low heat for 70 minutes.
  5. 5 Coconut water has a sweet aftertaste and a glossy brown color, but because it's already sweet, you need to reduce the amount of sugar.
  6. 6 Add the carrot cubes during the last 20 minutes, then simmer until the sauce thickens and sprinkle with chili.

With an appliance

  • Pressure cooker 1 hr

    Replace step 4: high-pressure cooking for 28 minutes, then release the pressure naturally; add carrots after opening the lid and cook for 10 minutes.