Warm Asian spicy beef salad

Name: Warm Asian spicy beef salad
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp White vinegar; 1 Tbsp Oil, (use a vegetable oil or good quality olive oil); 1 clove Garlic, finely chopped; 1 pinch Sea salt, to season; 1 pinch Sugar, to season; 4 large handfuls Watercress, picked; 1 Shallot, finely sliced; 1 Red capsicum, finely sliced; 2 Tbsp Oil; 400 g Beef sirloin, trimmed and sliced into thin strips (Main); 1 serving Sea salt and cracked black pepper; 1 cup Mung bean sprouts, picked, or use more if desired; 3 Tbsp Spicy fish sauce, (recipe below); ½ cup Water; ¼ cup Fish sauce (Main); ¼ cup Rice vinegar; 3 Tbsp White sugar; 2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped; 1 Red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped (Main); 3 Tbsp Lime juice, or lemon juice

for 4 people

Kathy Paterson

Food writer and stylist.

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These recipes with their simple preparation and clean, fresh Asian flavours are just what’s needed to transition into spring.

Dressing

2 Tbsp	White vinegar
1 Tbsp	Oil, (use a vegetable oil or good quality olive oil)
1 clove	Garlic, finely chopped
1 pinch	Sea salt, to season
1 pinch	Sugar, to season

Salad

4 large handfuls	Watercress, picked
1	Shallot, finely sliced
1	Red capsicum, finely sliced
2 Tbsp	Oil
400 g	Beef sirloin, trimmed and sliced into thin strips (Main)
1 serving	Sea salt and cracked black pepper
1 cup	Mung bean sprouts, picked, or use more if desired
3 Tbsp	Spicy fish sauce, (recipe below)

Spicy fish sauce

½ cup	Water
¼ cup	Fish sauce (Main)
¼ cup	Rice vinegar
3 Tbsp	White sugar
2 cloves	Garlic, finely chopped
1	Red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped (Main)
3 Tbsp	Lime juice, or lemon juice

Directions

To make the dressing, place the vinegar, oil and garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt and mix well. The salt will take away excessive acidity but if you prefer you can add a little sugar to do this as well.
To make the salad, place the watercress, shallot and red capsicum in a shallow salad bowl and drizzle over the dressing. Set aside.
Heat a large frying pan over high heat. Rub the oil over the beef strips. In batches, add the beef strips to the hot pan and cook quickly for 1-2 minutes until browned on both sides. Cook in batches to prevent steaming the beef. Season with salt and freshly ground white or black pepper.
For the spicy fish sauce (this can be made ahead of time) place the water, fish sauce, vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve, increase the heat and bring to boiling point. Remove and allow to cool. Add the garlic, chilli and lime or lemon juice. Pour into a clean jar, cover with a tight-fitting lid and keep in the fridge till ready to use.
To serve, gently toss the dressing through the watercress salad. Add the beef. Sprinkle over the mung bean sprouts and drizzle over the spicy fish sauce. Finish with chilli slices and a side of pickled carrot and coconut rice (note to Silke - link to other recipes).

See more of Kathy's Asian inspired dishes