Thai Beef Noodle Salad
This dish combines grilled flank steak with rice vermicelli noodles, salad greens, red onion and fresh basil to create a delicious main-course salad that’s perfect for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients:
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup Asian fish sauce
- 1 1/2 Tbs. soy sauce
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut oil
- 1 1/2 lb. flank steak
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 lb. rice vermicelli noodles
- 2 Tbs. rice vinegar
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, preferably Thai
Directions:
Marinate the steak and cook the noodles
In a shallow glass or ceramic dish just large enough to hold the steak, stir together the garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar and 1/4 cup of the peanut oil. Pour 1/4 cup of the marinade into a small bowl, cover and refrigerate to use later as a vinaigrette. Season the steak with pepper. Add the steak to the marinade and turn to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the vermicelli noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Cook the steak
Prepare a hot fire in a grill and oil the grill rack. Or, preheat a broiler.
Remove the steak from the marinade, discarding the marinade. Place the steak on the grill rack, or put on a baking sheet and place under the broiler. Cook, turning once, 10 to 12 minutes total for medium-rare, or until done to your liking. Transfer the steak to a carving board, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes.
Make the vinaigrette and assemble the salad
Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup oil and the vinegar into the reserved marinade. Season with pepper. Cut the steak across the grain into thin slices. In a large bowl, combine the salad greens, vermicelli noodles, onion, basil and steak slices. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Divide among 4 plates and serve immediately. Serves 4.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Series, Weeknight, by Melanie Barnard (Oxmoor House, 2006).