Nswaa - Thai Spicy Beef Salad

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) beef sirloin, thinly sliced 500g (1.1 lb) beef sirloin, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar) 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar)
• 2 Thai bird's eye chilies, finely chopped 2 Thai bird's eye chilies, finely chopped
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 18g, 5g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 8g, 5g
• Protein: 32g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 2.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a bowl, combine the lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chopped chilies to make the dressing. Set aside.
2. 2.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the beef slices for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. Remove from heat and let it rest for a few minutes.
3. 3.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the shallot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, mint leaves, cilantro leaves, and Thai basil leaves.
4. 4.
   Add the cooked beef slices to the bowl and pour the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine.
5. 5.
   Serve the Nswaa salad immediately and enjoy the explosion of flavors.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Beef — For a more tender result, slice the beef against the grain.
• Thai bird's eye chilies — Adjust the amount of chilies according to your spice preference. Remove the seeds for a milder heat.
• Palm sugar — If palm sugar is not available, you can substitute it with brown sugar.

Tips & Tricks

• Marinate the beef in the dressing for 30 minutes before grilling to enhance the flavor.
• For a refreshing twist, add some sliced mango or papaya to the salad.
• Adjust the spiciness by adding more or fewer Thai bird's eye chilies.
• Serve the Nswaa salad on a bed of lettuce for an extra crunch.
• Garnish with crushed peanuts for added texture and flavor.

Serving advice

Serve the Nswaa salad as a main course accompanied by steamed jasmine rice or sticky rice. It can also be enjoyed as a light lunch or dinner on its own.

Presentation advice

Arrange the salad on a large platter, placing the grilled beef slices on top. Garnish with additional herbs and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts for an appealing presentation.