At Slanted Door in San Francisco, chef Charles Phan upended notions of what fashionable Vietnamese delicacies may very well be. His Shaking Beef turned a signature dish, however he was additionally identified for his artistic variations of Lemongrass Rooster, Rooster Pho, Crispy Bánh Xèo, and extra. Phan died on the ange of 62 in January 2025, however his legend of daring taste and playful Vietnamese meals lives on. Honor his legacy by cooking considered one of his dishes tonight.
Rooster Pho
This soup — which has an intense hen taste accented by fragrant roasted onion and ginger — was a favourite when Phan’s youngsters have been rising up, and the household would eat it for breakfast or lunch a minimum of 4 occasions per week. Phan’s recipe provides a big pinch of sugar to the broth to stability the pungent fish sauce, identical to his mom did.
5-Spice Rooster Banh Mi
Ever the innovator, Phan used aromatic Chinese language five-spice powder as an alternative of the extra conventional lemongrass to season the meat on this sandwich. Fermented crimson bean curd provides a funkier taste than miso, so use it when you’ve got it.
Spicy Lemongrass Rooster
Phan was agency in his beliefs about the precise and incorrect option to stir-fry. “A wok is not like a salad bowl with a flame below it. You do not wish to throw all the things in without delay and toss. It’s good to layer flavors by including elements in the precise order.” On this case, which means lemongrass, aromatics, and loads of chiles.
Shaking Beef
Phan’s shaking beef at Slanted Door was the stuff of legend. A tart dipping sauce of lime juice, salt, and pepper makes the entire thing sing.
Crispy Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crêpes) with Shrimp, Pork, and Bean Sprouts
Phan usually discovered bánh xèo (a.ok.a. “glad pancakes”) at eating places to be insufficiently crisp relatively than lacy skinny and crackly. After years of devoted experimentation, he discovered that refrigerating the batter in a single day then cooking the crêpes in a nonstick skillet was the precise methodology.
Caramelized Black Pepper Rooster
In 2018, Meals & Wine selected this recipe as considered one of its 40 better of all time. A number of years earlier than, requested what he favored to prepare dinner rapidly at dwelling, Phan cited this candy, sizzling Vietnamese dish that comes collectively in simply minutes.
Stir-Fried Child Bok Choy with Shiitake Mushrooms
Phan most well-liked child bok choy for this straightforward stir-fry but in addition shared a intelligent methodology that will just do as nicely should you can solely discover the extra mature model.
Garlic-Brined Pork Banh Mi
Plan forward if you are going to be making this recipe, based mostly on a late-night store in Hoi An, Vietnam, the place Phan picked up the tip of soaking the pork in a single day in a garlicky brine earlier than roasting it.
Shrimp and Jicama Rolls with Chili-Peanut Sauce
Rising up in Vietnam, Phan and his classmates purchased chewy rice-paper rolls stuffed with crunchy jicama and candy shrimp from road distributors who arrange on the playground. His model made issues neat by together with the sauce inside, however he’d all the time make additional for individuals who needed to dip.
Vietnamese Grilled Pork Meatball Sandwiches
Ever playful, Phan modeled these pickled carrot and cilantro-topped pork burgers after his beloved banh mi.