Asian Beef Salad

The weather has been ridiculous this summer and we are yet to venture into February which is traditionally the hotter of the summer months.  There have already been +40 degree Celsius days which have really knocked most Australian's around not to mention power shortages due to the overloading of the grid.  I have to admit to having our air conditioner on for several days in a row and sometimes I didn't feel I was getting relief at some stages.

Obviously this made cooking in the house a huge non-negotiable topic.  It was cooking outside either on the barbecue (keeping in mind if it is a Total Fire Ban) or in the pizza oven or it was cold foods!  Simple!

I decided that we would have an Asian style Beef Salad - tender warm beef with salad and an Asian infused dressing.  Everyone thought that sounded great and were enthused by the idea.  So I was armed with some nice pieces of rump steak already to make a marinade and then I hit a problem.  What marinade, what dressing, what flavours???  Seriously this just went from super easy to super hard.

Why hard?  Google Beef Salad Recipe and see how many options you get?  I was actually overwhelmed but I knew that I wanted to make it with Asian flavours - chilli, lime, garlic, fish sauce, etc.  So many different versions of recipes depending on the region in the World or cuisine but the more I read the more the same key ingredients kept appearing. Some recipes marinated the meat prior to cooking other's didn't, some did this and some did that!  So after about an hour of googling and two cuppas later I decided that I had read enough recipes and was just going to wing it.  

So here is my version of an Asian Beef Salad - a fusion of Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Oriental, and all the other recipes I read this morning.  Marinated tender rump chargrilled and then sliced served on a bed of mixed salad and herbs.  Of course, then drizzled with a salad dressing made from scratch (also used as the marinade).  It was devoured.......

Asian Beef Salad

Serves: 6

SmartPoints per Serve: 8

1 teaspoon sambal oelek

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 teaspoons grated ginger

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

2 tablespoons fish sauce

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon sesame oil

salt

freshly ground black pepper

800 grams rump steak

2 cups mixed lettuce leaves

1 punnet cherry tomatoes

1 small red onion, very finely sliced

1 lebanese cucumber , cut horizontally then cut into slices

1/4 cup coriander leaves , roughly chopped

1/4 cup mint leaves , roughly chopped

In a jug mix together the sambal oelek, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice and sesame oil. Season to taste with salt (don't use too much) and pepper.  Pour half into a large snap lock bag or casserole dish.  Put remainder into the fridge to use as the dressing.  

Ensure that the rump is trimmed of all fat.  Place whole pieces into the snap lock bag or casserole dish.  Ensure that the rump is coated in the marinade and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight, if possible.

When ready to cook preheat barbecue grill to high temperature.

Remove rump from marinade and place straight on the grill.  Cook for approximately 2 minutes each side for rare or cook to your liking.  Remove from grill, cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile place salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coriander and mint onto a serving platter or dish.

Cut steak thinly across the grain. Place on top of salad leaves.  Drizzle with remaining dressing, if desired, and serve immediately.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)