Easy Thai beef salad

5
Points®
Total Time
26 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
6 min
Serves
2
Difficulty
Easy
This Thai beef salad is packed with flavor and spice, and loads of crunchy vegetables, crisp greens, and fresh herbs. Fish sauce—made from anchovies, water, and salt—is found in Asian markets and in the ethnic section of most supermarkets. It is sometimes found labeled Nam Pla, the name for Thai fish sauce, or Nuoc Mam, the Vietnamese for fish sauce; the two are interchangeable. Thai bird chile peppers are small, pointed, extremely hot peppers that are red, orange, or green. If unavailable, substitute the more readily available serrano chile pepper, which has a bit less heat. This salad is best eaten soon after it is made as leftovers will be soggy over time.

Ingredients

Uncooked lean and trimmed beef filet mignon

6 oz, about 1-inch thick

Table salt

¼ tsp

Fresh lime juice

2 Tbsp

Asian fish sauce

1 Tbsp

Sugar

1 Tbsp

Fresh ginger

1 Tbsp, finely chopped

Garlic

1 clove(s), minced

Canned diced green chiles

2 Tbsp, or 1 Thai bird chile pepper, seeded and minced (wear gloves to prevent irritation)

Romaine lettuce

5 cup(s), shredded, shredded

English cucumber

¼ medium, 5-inch-long piece, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise

Radishes

cup(s), sliced, sliced

Cilantro

cup(s), fresh leaves

Peppermint leaves

cup(s)

Instructions

  1. Heat a medium nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the steak with the salt. Add the steak to the skillet and cook until done to taste, about 3 minutes on each side for rare. Cover the steak with a foil tent and let stand 5 minutes. Cut the steak, across the grain, into 1/4-inch-thick slices; let cool slightly.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and chile in a large serving bowl. Add the beef, lettuce, cucumber, radishes, cilantro, and mint; toss to mix. Serve at once.
  3. Yields 3 1/2 cups per serving.