Serving
(click to enlarge)

Beef & Water Spinach (Pak Bung)
Thailand

Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:
2 main
**
1/2 hr
Part

Sold as Ong Choy here in Southern California, water spinach is popular with all the Southern Asian communities. This simple stir fry provides good flavor and interesting texture. See also Meatless version and Chinese version.






*
*
*
*
*
12
1
2
3
3
1/2
1/2
1/2
3
1/4
2
tt
oz
#
cl
oz

T
T
T
T
t
T
Beef lean
Pak Bung
Garlic
Shallots
Thai Chilis (1)
Yellow Bean Sauce
Oyster Sauce
Fish Sauce
Stock
Sugar (opt)
Oil
Black Pepper
    Prep
  1. Slice BEEF thin (1/8 inch) into pieces about 2 inch by 1/2 inch.
  2. Strip Leaves from PAK BUNG leaving their stems behind. Tear into 3 inch lengths if too long. Discard overly thick stem ends (more than 1/4 inch diameter) and cut all stems including leaf stems into about 1-1/2 inch lengths - keep separate from leaves.
  3. Crush and chop GARLIC fine, cut SHALLOTS in half lengthwise and slice very thin, slice CHILIS very thin, mix all.
  4. Mix ALL * ITEMS.
  5. RUN
  6. Heat 1 T OIL in a wok and fry Beef until it has completely lost its raw color and is cooked through. Remove and set aside leaving oil in the wok.
  7. Add 1 T more OIL and stir in Garlic Mix. Fry stirring just until garlic starts to color then stir in Pak Bung Stems. Fry over high heat until partially wilted (about 2 minutes), then stir in the Pak Bung Leaves. Continue frying for another minute or so until leaves are mostly wilted. Larger stems should remain a bit crunchy.
  8. Stir in the Beef, then the Sauce Mix, and bring quickly to a boil, stirring until beef is hot. Season to taste with Black Pepper and serve hot with rice.
NOTES:
  1. Chilis: control hotness to your taste. Three Thai chilis makes it moderately spicy by Southern California standards. See my Chili Page for details.
  2. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch
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