Var's Loc-Lac Recipe

Create a Cambodian feast.

Christopher Bethell

INGREDIENTS

800g beef fillet, cut into 2cm cubes

4 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

½ tbsp oyster sauce

2 tsp dark soy sauce

1 tsp freshly ground white pepper (if not available, use black pepper)

1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry (or water)

½ tsp salt

3 tbsp peanut oil or sunflower oil (do not use olive oil as it will burn at high heat)

Sauce

110ml lime / lemon juice

1 tbsp freshly ground white pepper

2 tsp salt or more to taste

1 tsp sugar

Vegetables

2 ripe tomatoes, washed and thinly sliced

1 medium onion, peeled, washed, halved, and very thinly sliced crosswise

A few lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry (to line the serving dish)

PREPARATION

Marinate the beef fillet with garlic, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, pepper, rice wine, and salt. Then mix it very well, and cover it at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to an hour. I always make it the night before and leave it in the fridge, and in the morning take it out so it's room temperature, because it needs to be warm for the wok.

To make the lime sauce, mix all the sauce ingredients together, stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Set aside.

Prepare the serving plate by lining it with lettuce leaves and arrange the tomato and onion slices on top of the lettuce. Set aside.

Just before serving, heat the oil in a wok or skillet over very high heat until very hot. Here you can add a little sugar, and when the sugar begins to brown the wok is hot enough to cook the meat. Add the beef mixture and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until it turns golden brown. (Note: This should be done in a few batches because adding all the beef in one go will lower the temperature of the wok and will result in the beef being steamed in its own juice rather than being fried).

Transfer the fried beef to the prepared serving plate. Serve piping-hot with steamed rice or French baguette. To enjoy this, take a portion of the beef together with tomato and onion, and drizzle it with the lime sauce just before eating.

Christopher Bethell