Here is a handy marinade that I use for beef stir-fries. The combination of fish sauce and soy sauce gives the meat a wonderful savoriness that is uniquely Vietnamese.

Ingredients

　　1 teaspoon cornstarch

　　3/4 teaspoon sugar

　　1/4 teaspoon black pepper

　　2 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce

　　1 1/2 teaspoons light (regular) soy sauce

　　In a shallow bowl, combine the cornstarch, sugar, pepper, fish sauce, and soy sauce and stir to mix. Add the beef called for in the recipe, turn to coat the meat evenly, and set aside to marinate while you ready the remaining ingredients for the stir-fry.

　　Reprinted with permission from Into the Vietnamese Kitchen: Treasured Foodways, Modern Flavors by Andrea Nguyen. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Copyright © 2006.  Photographs by Leigh Beisch. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.