Oh, how we love Thai cuisine. And this Thai Beef Salad recipe is one of our very favorites.
No doubt, the steak is the hands-down star of this dish. But the flavor profile of the steak, combined with the vegetables, herbs and spices is spectacular.
Thai cuisine at its best is always so perfectly balanced, with usually an interesting mix of ingredients and aromatics that play perfectly off each other.
And almost always there is some heat. You can adjust the heat to your own tastes, but the heat in this salad is just enough to give you a warm tingly feeling.
Absolutely wonderful.
Shallots, cilantro, and colorful cherry tomatoes are combined with a hot and sour (with a touch of sweetness) dressing.
The perfect ingredients for an amazingly delicious steak salad.
So good.
Skirt steak is one of our most favorites cuts of meat to cook with because it’s so marbled and becomes almost “melt-in-your mouth” when prepared correctly.
This cut of meat stands up perfectly against the robust dressing.
And don’t forget to cut against the grain. If you cut along the grain, you’re more likely to get tough slices. Slicing against the grain shortens the muscle fibers, and produces a much more tender and juicy piece of meat.
This salad comes together quickly, too. Usually in half hour, or so.
Once the steak is cooked and sliced, you’ll mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and then plate for a beautiful presentation.
And the smell is intoxicating.
So often a steak salad means a bland plate full of green lettuce topped with a pile of meat.
In Thailand, steak salad means just that: STEAK salad!
This is wonderful served warm, but its also really good at room temperature, too. Which means this is the perfect salad to set out for a nice buffet or gathering of friends and family.
Are you hungry for an amazing steak salad yet?
We thought so! Go make this incredible Thai Beef Salad recipe!
- 1 large shallot, sliced into thin rings
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar, divided
- 1½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 (one) 1½ (or, 1.5) lbs skirt steak, cut into 2 or 3 pieces
- Canola oil (if using a skillet)
- 1½ tablespoons fish sauce*
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1½ cups red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, plus a few extra sprigs for garnish
- ½ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
- *Available in the Asian section of well-stock supermarkets or at Asian food markets
- Combine the shallots and the lime juice in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes, stirring a couple times every now and then.
- In a small bowl, combine together 2 teaspoons of the brown sugar with the salt and pepper.
- Rub the sugar-salt mixture all over the steak.
- Prepare your grill to high heat. If using a skillet, heat 1 teaspoon canola oil over medium-high heat until smoking, about 4 - 5 minutes.
- Cook the meat until nicely charred on the outside, and still a bit pink on the inside. About 2 - 4 minutes per side. (This will most likely need to be done in 2 batches when using a skillet)
- Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Stir into the shallot and lime mixture the fish sauce, pepper flakes and remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar. Mix until smooth and sugar has dissolved.
- Slice the steak thinly against the grain, then place into the large bowl along with accumulated juices.
- Toss in the tomatoes, cilantro and mint. Gently stir until all ingredients are well coated.
- Transfer to a platter and garnish with cilantro, if desired.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Enjoy!
I sometimes don’t know if I have words….this is so perfect and so good!! I made it and topped the beef over an Italian chopped salad this week and my husband loves it!! I served it alongside sunnyside up eggs for breakfast and I munch on it as a snack throughout my work day…thank you…SO GOOD!!! I sincerely appreciate your love of great recipes/food….keep ’em coming.!
Thank you so much, Kristy!! You are so kind and we are so very, very happy you are enjoying these recipes and making so many of them. THANK YOU!!!!! xoxo
In the Thai Beef Salad the measurement is not clear. Is it 1 1/2 lbs skirt steak or 1 – 1/2 lb skirt steak. The recipe appears to be 1 12lb skirt steak which I’m sure is not correct.
Hi Candace! Thank you so much! You are 100% correct! That was 100% not clear! We’ve updated the recipe to: 1 (one) 1 1/2 (or, 1.5) lbs skirt steak. 12 lbs of skirt steak would make a lot of beef salad!! 🙂 Thanks again!! Kris & Wesley