{"id":15159,"date":"2022-07-20T08:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T15:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/?p=15159"},"modified":"2025-10-16T17:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T00:41:14","slug":"vietnamese-style-beef-stew-bo-kho","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/vietnamese-style-beef-stew-bo-kho\/","title":{"rendered":"Bo Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fragrant with lemongrass and aromatic spices, Bo Kho<\/strong> is a delicious Vietnamese beef stew<\/strong> dotted with chunks of tender, sweet carrots. It's perfect comfort food: rich, savory, and warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bowlful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bo Kho is a spiced beef and carrot stew from Vietnam. Southeast Asian herbs and spices, such as lemongrass and ginger, flavor the stew while carrots and beef provide the bulk of the dish. It's deeply savory with bright notes of star anise, lime leaf, and plenty of fresh herbs added at the very end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the late 19th century through the early 1950s, Vietnam fell under French rule as part of French Indochina, which also included Cambodia, Laos, and parts of China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

French occupation of Vietnam influenced its cuisine, and Bo Kho illustrates that influence as it's related to the French dish Boeuf aux Carrots - a braised beef stew with carrots. Vietnamese cooking is also influenced by 1,000 years of Chinese occupation, so you'll find classical Chinese culinary influences in this dish as well such as star anise and five spice powder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnamese-American chef Andrea Nguyen has an excellent video<\/a> on the history (both broad and personal) for this dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it isn't thickened with a roux, as is the case for American beef stew, Bo Kho has a pleasant brothy quality. And a crusty baguette is perfect for sopping up all those fragrant juices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What's in it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beef and carrots are the foundation of Bo Kho. To this foundation, you'll also add a liquid (it helps cook the meat and form the stew), aromatic herbs and spices, alliums, and ginger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To serve Bo Kho, you'll want plenty of fresh herbs, some chopped Thai chilies, and a source of starch such as baguette, steamed rice, or noodles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n