Grilled Lemongrass Beef Salad Recipes

GRILLED LEMONGRASS BEEF AND NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Make marinade:
• Thinly slice lower 6 inches of lemongrass stalks, discarding remainder of stalks. In a food processor or blender finely grind together sliced lemongrass and garlic. Add remaining marinade ingredients and blend well.
• In a large resealable plastic bag combine marinade and steak and seal bag, pressing out excess air. Marinate steak, chilled, turning bag once or twice, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• In a large bowl soak noodles in hot water to cover 15 minutes, or until softened and pliable.
• Prepare grill (or preheat broiler). Bring a kettle of salted water to a boil for noodles.
• Discard marinade and grill steak on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 3 to 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare. (Alternatively, steak may be broiled on rack of a broiler pan about 3 inches from heat about same amount of time.) Transfer steak to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes.
• While steak is cooking, drain noodles in a colander and cook in boiling water 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until just tender. In a colander drain noodles and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain noodles well.
• In a large bowl toss noodles with herbs and half of nuoc cham. Divide cucumber among 4 bowls or plates and top with noodles. Sprinkle each serving with 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons rice powder. Thinly slice steak on the diagonal and divide among noodles, mounding it. Sprinkle chilies over each serving and garnish with herb sprigs. Serve remaining nuoc cham on the side.

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BEEF AND NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine sugar, rice vinegar and lime juice and stir to dissolve. Add fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chiles and 1/2 cup water and stir together. Let sit for 15 minutes for flavors to meld. (May be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.)
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add rice noodles, stir and turn off heat. Let noodles soften (5 to 8 minutes, depending on brand), then drain and rinse with cold water. Leave in colander at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, combine beef, fish sauce, sugar, garlic and lemon grass in a bowl. Massage seasoning into beef and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Line a serving bowl or four individual large wide soup bowls with a few lettuce leaves and top with noodles.
• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. When wok is nearly smoking, add beef and quickly stir-fry until lightly browned and just cooked, about 2 minutes. Work in batches if necessary so meat browns and doesn't steam. (If you do not have a wok, you may use a cast iron skillet and work in batches.)
• Top noodles with cooked beef, scallions, carrot, cucumber and daikon. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed peanuts and fried shallots (add sprouts if using). Drizzle lightly with dipping sauce and pass remaining sauce at table.

GRILLED BEEF SALAD

Steps:

• For the beef: Put the beef in a resealable plastic bag. Mix together the olive oil, mustard, garlic and thyme in a small bowl. Pour over the beef, seal the bag and refrigerate for anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight. Take the meat out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you are ready to cook.
• To cook, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Wipe the meat dry and season well with the salt and lemon pepper. Grill the meat for about 4 minutes per side, depending on how you like your beef cooked. Cover and set aside to rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
• For the salad: In a jar, shake together the olive oil, mustard, thyme leaves, lemon juice and a pinch each salt and pepper. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and shake again. Add 2 tablespoons of the blue cheese crumbles and shake once more. Set aside while you assemble the salad and slice the meat.
• Put the spinach, romaine and salad greens in a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, scallions, red pepper and red onion. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss with a little of the dressing. Add the remaining blue cheese crumbles (about 2/3 cup) and toss again.
• To serve: Slice the beef thinly against the grain. Place a pile of the salad on 1 big platter and drape the meat over the salad. Serve extra dressing on the side.

GRILLED LEMONGRASS BEEF

Steps:

• This is great with the Vietnamese Herb and Salad Plate (some or all of Asian basil leaves, mint leaves, coriander sprigs, leaf letter, small scallions, lime wedges, bird chiles, cucumber, bean sprouts, carrot & daikon (fresh or pickled)).
• Combine the lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and chile in a mortar. Pound into a paste. You can do this in the blender, adding a bit of water.
• Transfer to a bowl and add fish sauce, lime juice, and water. Blend well. Add the sesame oil, blend, and set aside.
• Cut the meat into very thin slices (less than 1/8 in if you can. This is MUCH easier partly frozen). Cut the slices into 1 1/2 inch lengths. Place the meat in the marinade. Cover and marinate 1 hour at room temperature or up to 8 hours refrigerated.
• Thread the meat onto skewers and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Lightly oil the grill rack or broiler pan. Grill meat for 1 min each side (medium rare) or until thoroughly cooked.
• Serve with salad and nuoc cham (Vietnamese table sauce) or nuoc leo (Vietnamese peanut sauce).

BUN BO (GRILLED LEMONGRASS BEEF NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• To make the marinade paste, pound the onion, garlic and lemongrass with a mortar and pestle or with a food processor until coarse. Add in the salt, black pepper, curry powder if desired, and fish sauce. Stir mixture over the beef and marinate for 1 hour or overnight if possible.
• Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add the vermicelli noodles and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Drain, refresh under cold water, drain again and set aside.
• Thread the meat strips onto the bamboo skewers. Grill till done to taste.
• To serve, place a portion of noodles in a large soup bowl. Then place the beef, lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint leaves, fresh coriander, carrot and 1 teaspoon crushed peanuts on top of the noodles. Dress the ingredients with 2 tablespoons nuoc cham, or more to taste - I use around 4 tablespoons for each serving. Toss the ingredients together and serve. Repeat the process for each serving.