Vietnamese Beef and Watercress Salad
This Vietnamese beef and watercress salad has chunks of pan seared beef on a bed of crispy watercress and is dressed in a tangy Vietnamese nuoc mam sauce. It is a great way to to get more vegetables in your diet and is perfect for anyone looking for an easy and healthy meal for family or friends. Measurements: 1 cup = 250 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 tsp 5 ml
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 400 gm beef steak (best you can afford) (at room temperature and cubed (Note 1))
- 150 gm watercress / leafy salad mix / or both, (washed and trimmed)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 6 - 8 cherry tomatoes or 2 medium sized tomatoes, (chopped )
- 1/4 red onion, (thinly sliced)
- 10 stalks of coriander, (chopped)
- 1/2 granny smith apple, (cut into thin strips)
- 2 garlic cloves, (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- pepper
- 1 tsp corn flour
- 1 tbsp hot water
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp palm vinegar or white vinegar
- 3 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 - 2 birds eye chilli, (chopped (optional))
Instructions
- 1
Combine the marinade ingredients and the cubed beef in a large bowl. Then cover with cling wrap and allow to marinate for 20 mins.
- 2
Make the salad dressing by combining the sugar and hot water in a bowl. With a spoon, dissolve as much of the sugar as possible.
- 3
Add the remaining dressing ingredients and combine thoroughly. Cover with cling wrap and set aside.
- 4
Prep all your vegetables. For best results, spin dry the watercress / salad mix after washing.
- 5
Heat a pan on medium - high heat and add vegetable oil. Fry the beef cubes to desired state. I like mine medium, so roughly 5-6 mins. (Note 2)
- 6
Place the watercress / salad mix, tomatoes, red onion and green apple in a large bowl.
- 7
Just before serving, spoon half of the dressing into the salad and toss.
- 8
Check the salad for seasoning. Add more dressing if needed and serve the remaining dressing in a bowl for anyone who wants additional sauce.
- 9
Place the salad on a plate with the beef cubes on top and serve with rice.