Lau Bo (Vietnamese Beef Hot Pot)

Ingredients

Salt

1 teaspoon

Sugar

1 tablespoon

Chili peppers

2, finely chopped

Garlic

4 cloves, minced

Ginger

1 piece, thumb-sized, thinly sliced

Soy sauce

2 tablespoons

Fish sauce

2 tablespoons

Lime wedges

1 lime

Cilantro

1 handful, chopped

Green onions

4 stalks, sliced

Rice noodles

1 pound, cooked

Mushrooms

1 cup, sliced

Carrots

2, peeled and sliced

Bok choy

1 head, chopped

Napa cabbage

1 head, chopped

Firm tofu

1 block, cubed

Shrimp

1 pound, peeled and deveined

Beef sirloin

1 pound, thinly sliced

Beef broth

8 cups

Instructions

1. In a large pot, bring the beef broth to a boil.
2. Add the minced garlic, thinly sliced ginger, chopped chili peppers, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt to the broth. Let it simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
3. While the broth is simmering, prepare a platter with the thinly sliced beef, peeled and deveined shrimp, cubed tofu, chopped vegetables, and cooked rice noodles.
4. Place the pot of fragrant broth on a portable stove or hot plate in the center of your dining table.
5. Invite your guests to cook their chosen ingredients in the hot pot, immersing them in the simmering broth until they are cooked to their liking.
6. Serve the cooked ingredients with a variety of dipping sauces like soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili sauce to elevate the flavors.
7. Garnish the dish with sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime. This adds a vibrant freshness and zesty tang to the hot pot.
8. Enjoy the Lau Bo hot pot experience, sharing stories, laughter, and delicious food with your loved ones.