Thai Steak Salad with Mango (Yum Nua)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or light brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil
• 2 Thai red chiles (finely minced)
• 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
• 1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (Canola, Avocado, or other vegetable cooking oils.)
• 12 ounces salad greens (I recommend romaine, green leaf, little gem, and spring mix, or a combination of all)
• 1 large ripe mango (peeled and cut into thin strips)
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes ((mix of yellow, orange, and red) halved)
• 1/2 large English cucumber (halved lengthwise and sliced (or 4 Persian cucumbers sliced))
• 1 large carrot (peeled and julienned or shredded)
• 1 medium shallot (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts (roughly chopped, plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Prep the Dressing ---

2. 2

   In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, oil, Thai chile, and garlic until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust to your preference. Set aside while you prepare the other ingredients and allow the flavors to meld.

3. 3

   --- Cook the Beef ---

4. 4

   Pat the steak dry and season with salt and pepper all over.

5. 5

   Heat a grill, grill pan, or cast iron skillet over high heat. Brush the grates or pan with oil as well as the steak.

6. 6

   Cook the steak until it’s medium rare, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from heat, let rest for 10 minutes, then slice very thinly against the grain.

7. 7

   --- Build the Salad ---

8. 8

   In a large bowl, combine the salad greens, mango, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, shallots, mint, cilantro, Thai basil, sliced steak, and peanuts.

9. 9

   Add about ¾ of the dressing and toss gently.

10. 10

    Arrange the salad on a serving platter and drizzle with a little more dressing. Sprinkle with more chopped peanuts and serve immediately.