Yam Nuea Recipe

Yam Nuea is Thailand's fiery grilled beef salad: slices of charred, juicy beef tossed while warm with lime juice, fish sauce, chilli and a shower of fresh herbs. It is punchy, fragrant and dangerously easy to eat.

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Servings

4 servings

Calories

420

Ingredients

• 400 g beef sirloin or ribeye steak
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon chilli flakes (or 1 sliced bird's eye chilli)
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 spring onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup mint leaves
• 1/2 cup coriander leaves
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder (optional)
• Steamed rice, to serve

Instructions

1. Rub the steak with soy sauce and sugar, then grill or sear over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare.
2. Rest the steak for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
3. Whisk the lime juice, fish sauce and chilli flakes into a dressing.
4. Toss the warm beef slices with the dressing, shallot, spring onion, mint and coriander.
5. Add the tomato and toasted rice powder if using, and toss once more.
6. Arrange with cucumber slices and serve with steamed rice.

Pro tips

• Slicing against the grain keeps the beef tender in the salad.
• Toss the beef while still warm so it drinks up the dressing.
• Toasted rice powder adds a lovely nutty crunch; toast raw sticky rice and grind it fresh.
• Balance the dressing to your taste: it should be sour, salty, spicy and just a little sweet.

Frequently asked questions