Yam nua (Thai grilled beef salad)

Ingredients

• 700 g beef rump steak
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 pinch fine salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 piece cucumber
• 250 g cherry tomatoes
• 1 piece red onion
• 0.5 bunches fresh cilantro
• 0.5 bunches fresh mint
• 0.5 bunches Thai basil
• 3 pieces lime
• 4 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp palm sugar
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 pieces red bird's eye chili
• 4 leaves romaine lettuce

Method

1. Take the beef out of the refrigerator in advance, pat it dry carefully, then rub it with the oil, salt, and pepper; it needs to lose its fridge chill and have a dry surface.
2. Prepare the raw vegetables: seed the cucumber if it is very watery, cut it into half-moons, thinly slice the red onion, cut the tomatoes, and pick the herb leaves; keep everything chilled to preserve the crunch.
3. Pound the garlic and chili into a coarse paste, then mix with the lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar; stir until dissolved, looking for a bright, salty, tart, spicy, and mildly sweet balance.
4. Heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over very high heat until lightly smoking, then sear the beef without moving it at first; flip when a brown, crusty sear appears.
5. Continue cooking briefly on the other side to keep the center pink and juicy, then let the meat rest on a plate; the juices should redistribute and the surface should remain shiny.
6. Slice the beef into thin strips, on a bias and against the grain, then pour the resting juices into the sauce to enhance the grilled flavor without losing freshness.
7. Gently toss the warm beef, raw vegetables, red onion, and some of the herbs with the sauce; the leaves should be just coated, not soggy.
8. Plate on the romaine leaves, add the rest of the fresh herbs at the last moment, and serve immediately, when the contrast between the warm beef, bright sauce, and fresh vegetables is at its peak.

Nutrition

Per serving

Energy

343.2 kcal

Protein

38.87 g

Carbohydrate

15.33 g

Fat

14.51 g

Fibre

4.29 g

Calcium

49.66 mg

Iron

0.58 mg

Magnesium

21.68 mg