🥩 Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua)

Here’s your complete, authentic, and flavor-packed recipe for 🥩 Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua) — a refreshing blend of juicy seared beef, crunchy vegetables, and a tangy-sweet-spicy dressing that makes every bite exciting. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner bursting with Thai flair! 🇹🇭🌶🥗

🥩 Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua)

⭐ Overview:

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2–3
Difficulty: Easy

🧂 Ingredients

For the Beef:

10 oz (300 g) beef steak (sirloin, flank, or ribeye works best)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fish sauce
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil or sesame oil

For the Salad:

2 cups mixed salad greens (or romaine lettuce)
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, sliced or cherry tomatoes halved
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
½ red bell pepper, julienned (optional)
¼ cup fresh mint leaves
¼ cup fresh cilantro (coriander) leaves
1 tablespoon chopped green onions (optional)

For the Thai Dressing:

2 tablespoons lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar or honey
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 small red chili, finely chopped (adjust heat to taste)
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional for aroma)

🔪 Instructions

1️⃣ Marinate the Beef

Rub steak with soy sauce, fish sauce, pepper, and olive oil.
Let it rest for 10–15 minutes to absorb flavor.

2️⃣ Cook the Beef

Heat a grill pan or skillet over high heat.
Sear beef for 2–3 minutes per side for medium-rare, or longer if preferred.
Let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.

3️⃣ Prepare the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, chili, and sesame oil until sugar dissolves.
Taste and adjust — it should be spicy, sour, sweet, and salty all in balance.

4️⃣ Assemble the Salad

In a large bowl, combine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, mint, cilantro, and bell pepper.
Add the sliced beef on top.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.

5️⃣ Serve

Plate the salad beautifully and sprinkle with extra herbs or a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Serve immediately while the beef is still slightly warm.

💡 Tips & Variations

🥩 Protein Swap: Try chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a lighter version.
🌶 Spice Control: Use less chili or substitute with a few drops of chili oil.
🥬 Extra Crunch: Add shredded carrots or roasted peanuts on top.
🧊 Meal Prep: Keep dressing and beef separate until serving to maintain freshness.