Recipe: Grilled Beef and Romaine Salad Thai-Style

Grilled Beef and Romaine Salad Thai-Style

THE GREENS:
1 large head romaine lettuce*
1 large cucumber, peeled
1 red onion, thinly sliced
11 firm radishes, trimmed
2 tomatoes, cored and sliced
1 package scallions, trimmed
16 fresh mint leaves
16 fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup coriander leaves **

THE SAUCE:
1 cup fish sauce (see note)
1/2 teaspoon powdered hot red chilies

THE MEAT:
8 thin slices top sirloin ***
1 dash salt to taste
1 dash fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup salad oil

*About 1 1/2 lbs. romaine rinsed and cut up or broken with fingers as for salad.
**Loosely packed (also known as Chinese parsley and cilantr o).
***top round, sirloin or club steak may be used.

Prepare a charcoal or other grill for cooking the meat. This should be done before starting to prepare the ingredients.

Thinly slice the cucumbers and radishes. Cut scallions into 1-inch lengths. Prepare all the greens as indicated and combine in a salad bowl. Brush meat with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Grill meat on both sides, ab out 2 minutes to a side or longer, depending on the desired degree of doneness.

Quickly, while the meat is still hot, cut the slices into 1 /2 inch strips and add them to the greens. If there are any accumulated meat juices, add them to the sauce. Pour the sauce over all and toss. Serve immediately with hot rice or long loaves of bread.

NOTE: Eit her Nuoc nam (Vietnamese fish sauce) or Nam pla) Thai fish sauce may be used in this recipe. Fish sauce and powdered red chiles are widely a vailable in Chinese markets.

Servings: 8
Source: A Feast Made for Laughter by Craig Claiborne