ELECTION DAY TREAT/COMFORT DINNER: quick, easy & flavourful steak salad

Sometimes only steak will do...

first posted 2018

A gorgeous whole meal salad with steak and a punchy Thai-style dressing
'Glorious! I love whole meal salads; this one's exceptional.' Taster

If you've had a demanding time of it and need to replenish energy and iron, protein-dense red meat can be an ideal solution.

Beef is not recommended for everyday but when one does indulge, the flavour and texture, the wonderful aroma is second to none. 

67 normally buys rump or lesser cuts of beef on the infrequent occasions steak is on the menu, marinading it to tenderise the flesh.  Wallet-friendly cuts will also work in this recipe.   

But on this occasion, there wasn't the time or energy to mess around and sirloin was the choice - grass-fed* as a trip to organic butchers wasn't possible.   

For ease and simplicity the salad of sweet leaves came out of a packet**. The dressing was a doddle -- a bit of grating and chopping and a quick whisk.  

Every mouthful was exquisite.

It was the perfect meal for a small household enjoying a breather after a frantic period of activity.  

Cost: £10-11-ish (7/2024) for 240gm/8oz grass-fed sirloin; less for rump & other cuts 
Feeds: 2 or a singleton with leftovers, but multiplies easily

Ingredients:
 1 steak, 240gm/8oz
   120gm/4.2oz salad leaves
   2 handfuls sliced cucumber & radish

   Dressing ingredients:
        juice of one lime
        1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
        1 tsp hoisin or fish sauce
        small clove garlic, grated
        1 tsp packed dark brown sugar
        small chilli, de-seeded & membranes removed, finely diced OR or a couple of pinches of chilli flakes (to taste)
        1/2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
        1/2 tbsp fresh chopped mint 

Method:

1. Take the steak out of the refrigerator at least an hour before cooking
2. Prepare salad dressing: whisk all ingred together in a bowl; taste & season with pepper & salt if necessary; set aside in small serving bowl or jug
3. Pile salad leaves on a platter, scattering cucumber & radish over
4. Preheat the frying pan over high heat; it should be smoking hot
5. Dry the meat with paper towels
6. Oil both sides of the meat (not the pan)
7. Using tongs, hold the fat only in the pan until it turns golden 
8. Drop the steak into the pan; leave 2-3 mins or until meat is brown & crusty
9. Turn the meat over, reduce heat slightly, cook another 2-3 mins
10. For medium - a slightly pink centre - cook both sides a further minute each
11. Transfer to a plate; season with salt & pepper
12. Ideally, rest the meat rest 5-10 mins, covered with foil 
13. Slice meat at an angle; arrange on top of the salad
14. Serve with dressing on the side

Comments:

'I expected the sirloin to be fabulous and it was.  But the gorgeously tangy sweet, hot & sour salad dressing made it even better.' Retired writer 

Tips:

• for rump steak make double the amount of dressing and set aside half for marinade.  Immerse the rump 10 mins each side 
• for less tender cuts like skirt, marinade overnight 

* Barrett's Englands Lane
**M&S Sweet Rosa Verde Salad

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This recipe  has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.