Lemongrass Beef Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 16 oz. strip steak, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp finely chopped lemongrass
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Optional Serving
- Steamed rice
- Vegetables, I used cilantro and carrots.
- Crispy onions
Instructions
- Place the thinly sliced beef in a bowl and marinate with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, chopped lemongrass, and minced garlic for at least 15 minutes, but ideally an hour.
- Heat a pan over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Add the beef in a single layer and cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the edges to caramelize.
- Stir briefly to finish cooking, making sure the beef is evenly browned and coated in the marinade.
- Serve the lemongrass beef over a fresh bowl of rice and optionally serve with vegetables and crispy onions.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
- Lemongrass Beef Recipe
- Introduction
- Why You’ll Love This Lemongrass Beef Recipe
- What Steak You Should Use For This Lemongrass Beef Recipe
- Lemongrass Beef Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Lemongrass Beef
- What to Serve with Lemongrass Beef
- How to Store Lemongrass Beef Recipe
- Lemongrass Beef Substitutions
- What to Make Next
Introduction
Lemongrass is one of those ingredients that gives every dish it’s in a big pop, and this Lemongrass Beef Recipe is a perfect example of that. It’s aromatic, refreshing, and comes together super quickly with just a few ingredients. Quick beef recipes are slowly starting to become a staple for young workers, and this one is a fresh take on those recipes. It still feels and tastes like a treat, even if you have work tomorrow!
Why You’ll Love This Lemongrass Beef Recipe
This Lemongrass Beef Recipe is so great because there’s only a few steps, and then you’ll have a restaurant quality beef dish on the table for lunch or dinner. Because the beef is already thinly sliced, it absorbs the marinade super quickly, which means you don’t need to marinate the beef for hours to get a strong flavor profile. Additionally, the lemongrass and garlic already build a strong flavor base that penetrates the beef quickly and can be tasted in every flavor-packed bite.
What Steak You Should Use For This Lemongrass Beef Recipe
With all the options at the grocery store, it can be confusing on how to pick the perfect cut for this Lemongrass Beef Recipe, but there are a few cuts that I prefer for this dish:
- Strip steak. Offers a great balance between tenderness and chewiness. It cooks well under high heat, and you can get thin pieces that stay juicy.
- Flank steak. A great option that soaks up the marinade super well. When cooked quickly, it still stays tender while still having a slightly chewy texture.
- Ribeye steak. The fat renders from this cut and adds extra flavor to the dish. It’s also more forgiving during the cooking process, so even if you overcook it accidentally, it will still be juicy and delicious.
Lemongrass Beef Recipe Ingredients
Beef (I used strip steak) – The main protein of the dish. Thinly slicing it helps it cook super quickly while staying juicy and efficiently absorbs the marinade.
Lemongrass + garlic – These are the star ingredients of the marinade. Lemongrass brings a citrusy flavor while the garlic adds its classic aromatic flavor.
Marinade (dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar) – A marinade that adds flavor to the beef, gives it color, and creates that signature glossy, slightly sweet and savory glaze.
Steamed rice + toppings (cilantro, carrots, crispy onions) – The perfect way to serve this Lemongrass Beef Recipe. The rice absorbs the sauce, while the toppings add extra texture and balance.
How to Make Lemongrass Beef
Place the sliced beef in a bowl and mix with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, lemongrass, and garlic. Let the beef marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour for more flavor.
Heat a pan over medium-high heat with oil and add the beef in a single layer. Cook without moving for a few minutes to develop caramelization.
Stir briefly to finish cooking and ensure the beef is evenly coated.
Serve immediately over rice. Top with vegetables and crispy onions if desired.
What to Serve with Lemongrass Beef
This Lemongrass Beef Recipe already tastes amazing on its own, but there are a few options that you can serve with this recipe to help bring even more flavor and balance to your meal. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Steamed white rice. A classic side that soaks up all the sauce and compliments the richness of the beef perfectly.
- Pickled vegetables. Pickled daikon radish and carrots are sometimes served with Lemongrass Beef. The acidity helps cut through the strong flavors of the beef, ultimately creating a balanced bite.
- Rice noodles. This Lemongrass Beef Recipe is also perfect over rice noodles and is a great substitution instead of rice.
How to Store Lemongrass Beef Recipe
This Lemongrass Beef Recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I usually like to store it separately or at least next to the white rice so the rice grains don’t become soggy from the excess sauce. When reheating, you have a couple of options:
- Reheating in a pan. Helps preserve the texture as best as possible and adds some of the caramelization back.
- Reheating in a microwave. The most convenient way of reheating. Add a small splash of water, mix, and microwave for 2 minutes. The water is added to break up the sauce, which will naturally thicken as it cools.
Lemongrass Beef Substitutions
This Lemongrass Beef Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients depending on what you have in the fridge or pantry. A few of my favorite substitutions are:
- Ground beef. A quicker alternative that still absorbs the marinade well, although you may miss those coveted caramelized edges.
- No lemongrass. If you can’t find fresh lemongrass, you can either buy a tubed option, or substitute with a pinch of lemon zest.
- Honey. Can be used instead of sugar and still gives the beef some great caramelization.
What to Make Next
Craving something with noodles? You’ll love my Gochujang Alfredo!
Want another quick beef dinner? Try my Mongolian Beef!
Feeling like chicken instead? Cook my Chicken Chow Mein!
