Vibrant Thai Beef Salad with Noodles and Fresh Herbs

Ingredients

• Beef steak (1 pound, sirloin or flank)
• Rice noodles (8 ounces)
• Red onion (1, thinly sliced)
• Cucumber (1, julienned)
• Cherry tomatoes (1 cup, halved)
• Fresh basil (1/2 cup, chopped)
• Fresh cilantro (1/2 cup, chopped)
• Fresh mint (1/2 cup, chopped)
• Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
• Red chili (1, finely sliced (adjust to taste))
• Lime juice (3 tablespoons, freshly squeezed)
• Fish sauce (3 tablespoons)
• Brown sugar (1 tablespoon)

Instructions

1. Start by cooking the beef steak to your desired level of doneness (medium-rare is recommended for tenderness). Allow it to rest for a few minutes, then slice it thinly against the grain.
2. Prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and drain well.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped fresh mint, cilantro, basil, thinly sliced red onion, julienned cucumber, and halved cherry tomatoes. Toss gently to mix the ingredients.
4. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, freshly squeezed lime juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, and sliced red chili. This dressing will provide the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors.
5. Add the sliced beef and cooked rice noodles to the bowl with the herbs and vegetables. Pour the dressing over the top and toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated.
6. Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature, garnished with additional herbs if desired. Enjoy the explosion of flavors!