You will love this tangy dressing made for this Thai Beef Salad. It’s amazingly delicious, full of strong flavors and topped with toasted rice powder for a bit of crunch.
It’s enticing aroma owes its appeal to a special dressing you make from fresh ingredients. Feel free to substitute flavors you like for ones that are too spicy or cause allergies.
That’s the excitement of an Asian salad! There’s so much the cook can do to personalize the ingredients without losing the zest of a fresh, tempting meal.
If you’re like me, this Salad is a common meal at the table no matter what the season. Of course, a cool salad is always a treat when the weather is hot.
Perhaps the delicious chili-enhanced dressing brings about its popularity during the winter. A delightful burst of just-right heat adds a special zing to each bite.
An additional bonus for this recipe is the opportunity to enjoy quality beef regardless of its price! Just a half-pound of steak satisfies the craving for beef of two people.
The most important part is cooking the meat to please each person. Some people like their meat medium rare and insist any other result ruins the taste.
The opposite end of the spectrum is the family member who only wants beef when it is well done and casts it aside if it’s not. Beef is a special part of this salad so take the time to please everyone, especially since this is just a recipe for two.
Fresh coriander is available at quite a few grocery stores and specialty shops. It may even grow in your herb garden. Also referred to as cilantro, it’s a welcome addition to Mexican foods.
Either name is correct for this leafy green herb. Do not exchange the fresh stems and leaves in this recipe with dried leaves or seeds that deliver a different texture and flavor.
Ingredients:
for the dressing:
- 4 pcs Thai chili or spicy chili (adjust the amount according to your spice tolerance)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tbsp cilantro stems (finely chopped)
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- ½ tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
for the salad:
- 8 oz beef steak at room temperature
- ½ tbsp toasted glutinous rice powder – this is optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups romaine lettuce
- ¼ cup tomatoes halved
- ¼ small red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cut cucumber spiraled or sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro grind or cut into tiny pieces
- ¼ cup mint leaves
for the garnish:
- 1 tbsp seaweed salad optional
- Extra cilantro
Step by step Instructions
1 Prepare your greens (romaine, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, mint leaves) and set aside.
Prep the dressing:
2 Add all the ingredients and adjust the taste (Read Note 1). Set aside.
Cook the steak:
3 Preheat a skillet over high heat until hot and smoking. Cook the beef to your liking. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside for 10 minutes to rest.
4 Slice the beef thinly against the grain and sprinkle with grounded toasted glutinous rice (optional) and a pinch of salt and pepper.
4 Place in a bowl with the remaining salad ingredients and pour over the dressing and toss gently.
5 Top with seaweed salad (optional) or you can sprinkle with peanuts and garnish with extra cilantro and mint leaves.
Notes
1.) Try grinding the cilantro stems first in a mortar and pestle before adding the remaining dressing ingredients. The gentle crushing encourages the oils and flavor to spill out and combine with the mixture.
Other Asian recipes:
Sushi Salad in a Jar
Vietnamese Noodle Salad
Thai Green Papaya Salad
Thai Cucumber Salad
Thai Green Curry Recipe
Chefs share preparation tips from time to time to encourage people to create special recipes. Hints about herb preparation, such as rinsing them before using, help create a delicious dish with very little effort on your part.
Extra Tip:
Another hint that results in mouth-watering dressing for Thai Beef Salad is grinding the cilantro/coriander stems first in a mortar and pestle before adding the remaining dressing ingredients.
The crushing encourages the oils and flavor to spill out and combine with the mixture.
If you have no access to a mortar and pestle, you’ll achieve almost the same effect by chopping the stems very fine. Then add the pieces to the dressing and mix it well.
You may want to make extra dressing to use for another salad later this week!
Watch the video
Thai Beef Salad
Ingredients:
Dressing:
- 4 pcs Thai chili or spicy chili (adjust the amount according to your spice tolerance)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tbsp cilantro stems (finely chopped)
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- ½ tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
Salad:
- 8 oz beef steak at room temperature
- ½ tbsp toasted glutinous rice powder - this is optional
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups romaine lettuce
- ¼ cup tomatoes halved
- ¼ small red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cut cucumber spiraled or sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro grinded or cut into tiny pieces
- ¼ cup mint leaves
Garnish:
- 1 tbsp seaweed salad optional
- Extra cilantro
Instructions:
- Prepare your greens (romaine, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, mint leaves) and set aside.
Dressing:
- Add all the ingredients and adjust the taste (Read Note 1). Set aside.
Cook the Steak:
- Preheat a skillet over high heat until hot and smoking.
- Cook the beef to your liking.
- Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside for 10 minutes to rest.
- Slice the beef thinly against the grain and sprinkle with grounded toasted glutinous rice (optional) and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Place in a bowl with the remaining salad ingredients and pour over the dressing and toss gently.
- Top with seaweed salad (optional) or you can sprinkle with peanuts and garnish with extra cilantro and mint leaves.
Watch the Video:
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Lilian Jimenez says
I love cucumber being a part of the base in Thai salad. This is my all time favorite recipe!!
Juliet Lunde says
Steak salad is one of my favorites and your salad prompted me to give this a try tonight!! I like the addition of the rice powder – a little crunch is perfect!!
Stephanie Jules says
My family loves Thai dishes and this one really makes me so hungry!! I love lime juice dressing because its so refreshing and healthy. And the zucchini noodles are too tasty.. yummy!!
Claire Blumenstein says
I love the fresh lime and garnish it with rice powder. The aroma of the toasted rice powder is so good plus a hint of crunchiness.
Jessica M says
Been trying to find new ways to spice up my salads and this is definitely one of the lists. Pinning this for my shopping trip later.
Patty Merrell says
This Thai dressing is the bomb!! Looks so fresh and healthy, I love that this Thai salad isn’t all rice noodles, but I would love throwing some rice noodles 🙂
Rose Bowman says
This salad looks so refreshing!!! The dressing tastes flavorful, I cant wait to try this out soon.
Ariel says
This salad looks so delicious! I am always looking for new ways to eat salads as I get bored with them easily (is that just me?). This looks easy to make, I will have to try it. Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth O says
I am a vegetarian, but this still looks so good, I will be saving the recipe for sure to make a veggie alternative. Very healthy and looks delicious.
Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook says
Love the idea of different textures together. Delicious n
Nati says
My hubby loves Thai dishes and specially if they are spicy. I’m sure he will love this salad, so I’m saving it, to surprise him!!
mily jain says
I often make the vegetarian version of this salad when i am a mood for light dinners…love using fresh cilantro in salads..they add such a good flavor to the food..
Karrie Frost says
YUM! I was looking at what to make with some beef I have in the fridge. This looks like a complete meal. Can’t wait to make it for dinner!
NICOLE FLINT says
THIS IS THE BEST LOOKING SALAD I HAVE EVER LAID MY EYES ON! THIS LOOKS SO DELICIOUS. BALANCED AND HEALTHY!
Emily Leary says
I love Thai salad and this one looks delicious – spicy, fresh and full of zing 🙂
Sue Tanya Mchorgh says
I have never heard of Thai Beef salad before but it looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing this. I hope i get to try it one day.
Ellie Plummer says
I have to admit that I don’t eat beef but this sounds delicious so I may have to try this with an alternative.
Shubhada Bhide says
Wow!! I do really love salad and this Thai Beef Salad looks so delicious and really tasty. I really want to try this later for our lunch. I bet my hubby will really love this salad recipe.
rachael lalji says
I was literally sitting here thinking what to make for lunch. Thank you for this it looks delicious
Deb B. says
Crazy to admit this but I have never tried Thai Beef Salad ! It looks absolutely divine and I know both myself and my husband would gobble that up! I’m going to give this a try for sure.
Joanna says
I love a good thai beef salad but you are right, the meat has to be cooked to everyone’s liking, which is very hard. Though I have to admit, whoever wants it well done doesn’t know the real taste of beef, haha.
Alaina Monster says
This looks like a great dinner recipe! I love how all the ingredients are so fresh!
Amanda says
MMm this looks delicious. I am intrigued with the seaweed garnish, but I am willing to try this! Plus with steak mixed in I may be able to convince my bf to try it.
EmpowerandHelp says
Wonderinfg if you canr eplace tofu or soy , it will be great recipe for vegetarians also
Jodi Major says
I had no idea that cilantro & coriander were the same thing. I’ve heard both terms before but didn’t know it was the same. This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing
Shell says
Wow this looks absolutely wonderful and delicious! I will have to try this for my family to enjoy!
Kate says
This salad looks amazing!! And is definitely something I could get my boyfriend to eat. The seaweed puts it right up his alley. Thanks for sharing!! x
Kate
http://www.thegoldsister.com
Leah klein says
That sounds amazing! I just made a thai beef vermicelli dish and now I want to make this!
Emily Terrell says
I’ve been looking for new recipes to try, especially healthier ones. I would love to give this one a try! Thank you so much sharing it.
KD Harris says
Mouth watering! I’m def going try this!
Tennille M. says
This post made me soooo hungry! I love the balance of healthy and deliciousness of this recipe. Can’t wait to try it out.
Ithfifi says
This sounds absolutely gorgeous, I love thai flavors and it always goes perfectly with beef. This is going in my recipe bookmarks to try!
Cia Black says
NOt only is this healthy but it has got to be the best looking salad I’ve seen in such a long time, The dressing recipe is for sure going to be something I;m going to need to try an make.
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
That dressing sounds SO good! I love all the flavors in this. Can’t wait to try it!
Britt | Sweet Tea & Thyme says
I’m so here for this! That salad looks delicious and I absolutely love the Thai flavors.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I agree quality beef is a must!! This Thai beef salad looks delicious! I love ordering Thai beef when I go out, now I can make it at home!
Angela Amores says
This looks amazing!! I love that the instructions are really detailed as well. I’m not a great cook, but I’m going to try making this.
Heather Montgomery says
Going to have to pin this one! yum1!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
This is what I order every time I go out for Thai food, and the flavors are insane. I love your tip about the cilantro stems!
Traci says
Thai Beef Salad?! Yes pleasssse! This looks like my favorite salad. I would be so happy to eat this ANY season of the year. Thanks for sharing!