“Finally, a salad my husband will eat for dinner without asking what else there is! Made extra dressing and marinated the meat. Also used Thai basil and Thai chilis we have growing. It was absolutely delicious. Have made it several times.” ~ FL
This is a salad that needs to have room to breathe…spread it out on a a big platter so you don’t crush the delicate herbs or hide that fabulous steak. The ingredients in this one of a kind salad make your mouth water just looking at them, so show them off!
The flavor lowdown~ the key elements that distinguish a Thai Beef Salad are a combination of basil, cilantro, and mint, along with lime, ginger, garlic, soy and fish sauce. Hot peppers provide an important kick of heat.
I think main course salads like this are such a smart, healthy way to eat.
I go through periods where I cut carbs to drop a few pounds, and I have to say this is the ultimate way to do that. This meal is light yet exploding with flavor, believe me, you’re not missing a thing here. I do other main course salads that aren’t just piles of lettuce, too…my Nicoise Salad is loaded with tuna, beans, and eggs for a ton of protein. My Chinese Chicken Salad is another healthy but hearty salad that helps shed pounds without leaving you hungry.
This Thai Beef Salad is a great example of a dish that might seem exotic and unapproachable for a regular family meal, but turns out to be no more trouble than any other salad. While the flavors are layered and complex, there aren’t any hard to find ingredients in here. Don’t have fish sauce? You should! It’s right there next to the soy sauce, pick some up next time you’re shopping. (You’re going to need it if you want to make my Shrimp Pad Thai)
TIP: Take your time through the produce section and choose the freshest looking herbs ~ if you’re near a farmer’s market, all the better. If you need to buy the herbs ahead of time, snip off the bottoms of their stems and put them in a glass of water. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator.
If you make this please snap a shot of it and share it with me on social media ~ use the hashtag #tvfgi! Follow me on instagram and get sneak peeks at what’s coming up on the blog.
More delicious Thai inspired recipes
- Thai Spaghetti Salad
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
- Thai Chicken Salad
- Thai Coconut Soup
- Shrimp Pad Thai
- Salmon Coconut Curry
Thai Beef Salad
Ingredients
dressing
- 3 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil, I used canola
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
salad
- 1 lb top sirloin steak, or any cut you like
- vegetable oil
- 8 large leaves of red leaf lettuce, rough chopped
- 2 small Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced (don’t peel)
- about 1/2 a small red onion, sliced paper thin (I used a mandolin)
- a handful of fresh basil leaves, thinly shred them if they are large
- a handful of fresh cilantro leaves
- a handful of fresh mint leaves
- 2 small hot red peppers, thinly sliced, seeds and all
- 1/3 cup peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and set aside.
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat until very hot. Brush the steak lightly with oil on both sides and grill for about 3 minutes per side for rare, or until it’s done the way you like it.
- Set the steak on a plate and cover with foil, let it rest for 10 minutes. Then slice it very thinly across the grain with a sharp knife.
- Arrange the lettuce across the bottom of a platter. Top with the cucumbers and onion slices, separating the rings as you scatter them around.
- Next add the steak and fresh herbs. Scatter the hot pepper rings over the top, along with the peanuts.
- Drizzle the dressing liberally over all, and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you like, you can marinate the steak in some of the dressing for anywhere from an hour to overnight. In that case, double the dressing recipe.
- Don’t dress this salad until just before eating, the dressing will wilt the herbs
Nutrition
Thanks for my Thai Beef Salad!
Such a gorgeous salad Sue, love all the herbs that you added, so much flavor and color here. The beef looks perfectly cooked.
That looks incredible, Sue. Those beef slices are so perfectly tender and delicious.
I think red onions taste so much better in a salad than white onions… loving this!
Totally agree, in fact, I’d go so far as to say that red onions are one of the best salad ingredients out there, they add so much!
The salad looks so refreshing and the steak looks gorgeous, a perfect combination!
Absolutely gorgeous and I love mint in a salad!
Mint with meat like lamb and beef is relatively unknown in Western food, but boy, is it good 🙂
They say you eat with your eyes first and I have definitely done that. This salad is stunning and I can’t wait to try this.
I can’t prove it but I think when food is appealing to the eye the flavor is enhanced.
so I just made a thai beef dish the other day. Key to it? FRESH HERBS indeed. Love thai basil! Love this! Will definitely try with mint
Thanks Lindsay, I was going to bring up Thai basil, but wondered if most people wouldn’t be able to find it. I know even in Los Angeles I’ve been frustrated sometimes! I guess the answer is for everybody grow a great big herb garden!
This salad looks incredible, I’m loving all these flavors. Thanks so much for including my recipe too!
It’s going to be all Thai all week around here…yum!
Love Thai flavors, this salad sounds delicious! Thanks for including my steak bites!
They sound soooo good Erin 🙂
I can never resist Thai flavours, so I am all over this salad! Love everything about it and my husband will especially love the beef part 🙂
My husband usually doesn’t go for salad for dinner, but he makes an exception in this case 😉