Grilled Beef Salad with Mint

Grilled Beef Salad with Mint is a simple, bright, and light salad that bursts with flavor. This dish is perfect for a refreshing and satisfying lunch. The combination of tender grilled beef, crisp salad greens, refreshing mint leaves, and zesty dressing creates a harmonious blend of tastes and textures. While the recipe calls for beef, you can easily substitute chicken, pork, or shrimp to suit your preference.

MAKES: 3 to 4 servings

TIME: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 ounces beef tenderloin or sirloin
• 4 cups torn Boston or romaine lettuce leaves, mesclun, or any salad greens mixture
• 1 cup torn fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded if necessary, and diced
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 tablespoon nam pla (Thai fish sauce) or soy sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat a charcoal or gas grill, or preheat the broiler to medium-high. Ensure that the rack is positioned about 4 inches from the heat source.
2. Grill or broil the beef until it reaches medium-rare doneness, which typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Set the beef aside to cool.
3. In a salad bowl, combine the torn lettuce, mint leaves, chopped red onion, and diced cucumber.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lime juice, nam pla (or soy sauce), cayenne, sugar, and 1 tablespoon of water. The dressing will be thin.
5. Toss the salad greens with the dressing until evenly coated.
6. Thinly slice the cooled beef and reserve any juices that accumulate. Combine the beef juice with the remaining dressing.
7. Lay the slices of beef over the dressed salad greens. Drizzle the reserved dressing over the beef and greens.
8. Serve the grilled beef salad immediately and enjoy the vibrant flavors and textures.

VARIATIONS:

• Grilled Chicken Salad with Lemongrass: Substitute boneless chicken breast or thighs for the beef. Optionally, marinate the chicken in a mixture of lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, and minced lemongrass for added flavor. Grill or broil until cooked through and proceed with the recipe. Omit the mint and add minced lemongrass to the dressing.
• Grilled Shrimp Salad with Chile and Basil: Replace the beef with peeled large shrimp. For enhanced flavor, marinate the shrimp in soy sauce, chile-garlic paste, and minced Thai basil leaves. Grill or broil until pink and proceed with the recipe. Substitute torn Thai basil leaves for mint and use Thai Chile Sauce instead of cayenne.

Grilled Beef Salad with Mint is a delightful dish that combines grilled meat, refreshing greens, aromatic mint, and a zesty dressing. This salad offers versatility, allowing you to substitute the protein with chicken, pork, or shrimp according to your preference. The combination of flavors creates a well-balanced and satisfying meal that can be enjoyed for lunch or a light dinner. Explore the variations provided to further customize the salad to your liking. Embrace the vibrant and fresh flavors of this grilled beef salad and savor each bite.