Preparation time: 30 to 35 minutes
Chilling time: 4 hours to overnight
Cooking time: 6 to 8 minutes
Serves 4

Grilled lemon grass beef is usually served at summer picnics and is always popular at parties and celebrations. This is a southern specialty. Cooks in northern Vietnam usually grill pork instead of beef.

Ingredients
1.5 lb. sirloin tip, thinly sliced
2 tsp. sugar 2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp. sesame seeds 2 stems lemon grass, finely chopped, or 2 tbsp. dried lemon grass, soaked
12 romaine lettuce leaves (optional)
2 tsp. each chopped fresh mint, coriander, and scallions (optional)

Directions
Mix sirloin, sugar, soy sauce, pepper, garlic, sesame seeds, and lemon grass in a large mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Soak 12 small wooden skewers in water until ready to use.

Preheat oven to broil or have an experienced cook help you start a charcoal grill.

Thread beef slices onto skewers accordion-style. When oven is preheated or charcoal ready, broil or grill beef for 6 to 8 minutes, or until done, turning often so that all sides are cooked evenly.

Serve hot from skewers or remove meat from a skewer and place on a lettuce leaf. Add 1/2 tsp. each of chopped fresh mint, coriander, and scallions. Roll up leaf, dip in nuoc cham, and serve.