Bò kho is the Vietnamese beef stew commonly flavored with lemongrass, star anise, cinnamon and annatto, and served with bread or noodles.
The name literally means “beef stew.” Cubes of beef are browned or simmered with aromatics, including lemongrass, onion, garlic and ginger. Carrots are especially common, and the broth is richly seasoned with spices that give it a warm fragrance and often a reddish color.
Bò kho can be eaten in several ways. It may be served as a soup-like bowl with rice noodles, alongside steamed rice, or with bánh mì for dipping. The precise consistency ranges from relatively brothy to thick and stew-like.
It is not the same as thịt kho, the caramelized pork dish commonly prepared with eggs during Tết. Bò kho is also distinct from bò lúc lắc, which consists of quickly cooked, cubed beef rather than a long-simmered stew.