The spicy and fragrant Asian snack
Vietnamese beef jerky, called bò khô, is a very popular snack in Vietnam.
It is distinguished by its intense aroma of lemongrass, ginger, chili, and five-spice, with a slightly sweet and spicy flavor.
This beef jerky can be enjoyed:
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as a snack
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with a green papaya salad
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with lime and fresh herbs
The good news: it is possible to prepare this Asian snack at home very easily using an oven or an air fryer.
Ingredients for beef jerky 
For about 1 kg of beef
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1 kg of beef (rump steak, flank steak, or top round)
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3 tbsp oyster sauce
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1 tbsp soy sauce
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2 tbsp brown sugar or palm sugar
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1 tsp five-spice powder
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1 tbsp chili powder
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1 tbsp crushed chili
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2 tbsp minced lemongrass
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1 tbsp minced ginger
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1 tbsp minced garlic
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1 tsp black pepper
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2 onions, cut into quarters
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2 star anise
These ingredients are typical of Asian cuisine and can be found on HelloAsia.ch.
Preparing the beef jerky
1. Prepare and cook the beef
In a pot, bring water to a boil with:
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onion
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lemongrass
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ginger
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star anise
Add the pieces of beef and let cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
This step helps to:
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remove the strong smell of the beef
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lightly infuse the meat with aromatics
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tenderize the texture.
Then let the meat cool.
2. Prepare the meat according to the desired texture
Once the meat is cooked, several techniques can be used:
Shred the meat
The meat is pulled into fibers with the hands.
➡ allows you to obtain bò khô xé sợi (shredded beef jerky).
Cut the meat into strips
The meat is cut into thin slices.
➡ allows you to obtain bò khô miếng (beef jerky in pieces).
Cut the meat into cubes
The meat is cut into small cubes.
➡ allows you to prepare bò khô viên, similar to the style of Vietnamese sautéed beef.
Traditional Vietnamese technique
A widely used method consists of:
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leaving the piece of beef whole
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tenderizing it with a meat mallet
This helps to:
break down the fibers
facilitate the penetration of the marinade
obtain more tender meat after drying.
3. Prepare the fragrant marinade 
In a large bowl, mix:
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oyster sauce
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soy sauce
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sugar
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lemongrass
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garlic
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ginger
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chili
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five-spice
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pepper
The marinade should be thick, fragrant, and slightly spicy.
Add the meat and mix well.
Let marinate for 4 to 6 hours, ideally overnight.
4. Reduce the meat on the stove 
Pour the marinated meat into a large pot or pan.
Cook over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
Stir regularly until:
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the sauce reduces
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the spices stick well to the meat
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the meat becomes drier.
5. Dry the beef
To obtain the typical texture of bò khô, you must dry the meat.
Oven drying
Preheat the oven to 110–120°C.
Spread the meat on a baking sheet.
Dry for 40 to 60 minutes.
Air fryer drying
Set the temperature to 110–120°C.
Dry for 25 to 35 minutes.
Stir lightly during cooking.
How to serve Vietnamese beef jerky 
Bò khô can be served:
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as a spicy snack
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with green papaya salad
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with lime and fresh herbs
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as an accompaniment to an Asian-style appetizer.
Tips for successful homemade beef jerky
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choose lean meat
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do not over-dry the meat
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adjust the chili according to taste
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let marinate overnight for more flavor.
