Stir-Fried Beef with Bean Sprouts and Chives

Stir-fried bean sprouts is a good dish and fast to implement, and also it is a nutritious and delicious as a complement to vegetables. Bean sprouts are very much used in the cuisines of Vietnam because it is inexpensive for most of the Vietnamese people from both the cities to country. I still remember that in my family’s kitchen back in Vietnam there was always a jar with pickled bean sprouts with chives for meals served in the family. Usually, these pickled bean sprouts were always a side dish for pork stew with eggs (thit heo kho trung) or fish stew (ca kho).  Bean sprouts can also be mixed with other raw vegetables and served as a salad (dia rau song), or to be a side dish for noodle soups, such as crab, tomato soup, etc.… My favorite use for bean sprouts is the stir-fry with meats or shrimp. Other times, I like to use bean sprouts to stir-fry with rice noodles and tofu to make a wonderful vegetarian dish. Bean sprouts and chives always go together and form integral delicacies on the menu of the family, much like the lyrics of the fun song, “Love and Marriage" (go together like a horse and carriage). I prepare this dish more often during the spring and summer because in my garden, the chives are growing very well, and I constantly grow my own bean sprouts inside, so there is no excuse for me not making this dish.


Ingredients:
1/2 lb. beef sirloin, thinly sliced
Marinade ingredients:
1 tsp oyster sauce
1 tbs soy sauce
1 shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbs cooking wine
Spices:
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 shallot, chopped
Vegetables:
8 oz. bean sprouts
6 oz chives, cut into 3 inch lengths
1/4 cup carrots, julienned
1/4 cup red onions, sliced
 
Enough oil for stir frying (about 2 tbs peanut oil)
 
Directions:
Combine the marinade ingredients in bowl. Add beef and marinade in the refrigerator for a few hours. Add 1 tsp oil to the meat so meat separates easily during cooking.
Combine salt, sugar, and black pepper in bowl and set aside.
In a wok over high heat oil, add beef and quickly stir the beef until just about medium rare. Remove beef onto a platter.

In same wok, add a little more oil. Add shallots and garlic. Stir until fragrant. Stir in carrots and cook for a 1 minute.

Add red onions and bean sprouts. Add bean sprouts and spice mixture (save a few little chives for garnish).

Return beef to join with bean sprouts and chives. Quickly mix well with high heat. 

 Pour onto platter and serve with hot cooked rice.