Saigon Beef

• For chile garlic sauce
• finely chopped peeled fresh ginger2 tablespoons
• cloves garlic, minced↗2 cloves
• dried hot red pepper flakes↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• rice vinegar↗1⁄2 cup

  (not seasoned)

• sesame oil↗1 tablespoon
• sriracha sauce or 1 tablespoon other asian hot chili sauce↗1 tablespoon
• mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)↗2 tablespoons
• sugar↗1⁄4 cup
• For beef
• sirloin steaks or 1 lb flank steak, 3/4 to 1 inch thick,trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes↗1 lb
• salt↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• black pepper↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• sesame oil↗2 tablespoons
• finely chopped shallots2 tablespoons
• tablespoon sriracha sauce or 1 tablespoon other asian hot chili sauce↗1
• fresh habanero pepper, seeded and minced (about 1 teaspoon)↗1⁄2
• cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)↗1⁄2
• cup well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk↗1⁄3
• For condiments
• limes, cut into wedges↗2
• head boston lettuce, leaves separated↗1
• fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced↗12
• scallions, thinly sliced crosswise↗3
• cup dry roasted salted peanut, chopped↗1⁄4
• carrot, shredded↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Make chile garlic sauce: Stir together ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar, sesame oil, Sriracha sauce, and mirin in a 1-quart heavy saucepan and boil over moderate heat 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Stir in sugar and simmer until thickened and reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Cool to room temperature.

4. 4

   Make beef while sauce is cooling: Pat steak dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. 5

   Heat sesame oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté steak, stirring occasionally, until browned on outside but still pink inside, about 3 minutes.

6. 6

   Stir in shallot, Sriracha sauce, habanero, and mirin and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender, about 20 minutes.

7. 7

   Stir in coconut milk and simmer, uncovered, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

8. 8

   To serve: Put beef, chile garlic sauce, lime wedges (for squeezing), and remaining condiments each in a separate bowl.

9. 9

   Spoon beef into lettuce leaves and top with condiments and sauce, then wrap up.