Yunnan Spicy Lemongrass Beef (Dai Minority Style)
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province — Dai minority tradition
A Xishuangbanna Dai minority preparation: minced beef mixed with fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, chili, garlic, and galangal, then grilled wrapped in banana leaf or directly on charcoal. The Southeast Asian influence on Dai cuisine (sharing a border with Laos and Myanmar) is profound — lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, and shrimp paste all appear in ways unusual in mainland Chinese cooking.