Yam Nua Yang (Beef Salad)

Submitted by Bob Berke

1-1 1/2 lbs flank or sirloin  steak, lightly scored in crosshatch pattern
Prepare this marinade:

• 3 Tbls soy sauce
• 2 Tbls fish sauce
• 2 Tbls sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbls fresh ginger, minced 

Combine the above ingredients
Pour the marinade over the steak in a glass container
and marinade the meat for 2-8 hrs  (the longer the better!)

Prepare the dressing: 
Grind (in a mortal and pestle if you have it)

• 3 cloves garlic
• 1-6 hot peppers
• 1 1/2 Tbls sugar

Then work in:

• 3 Tbls fish sauce
• 3 Tbls fresh lemon juice

And grind until you have a paste

Prepare a salad with these ingredients:

• 1 head of Boston or bibb lettuce
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 small sweet onion, very thinly sliced
• 12 cherry tomatoes, halved

You can top this salad with 1/4 cup of chopped  cilantro and 
1/4 cup of chopped dry roasted peanuts, but my favorite topping 
is rice powder.  Here's how to make it:

• Brown 1/4 cup of rice grains, shaking pan to make sure even cooking
  (Cook time is about 2-3 minutes on high)
• Grind the rice to a powder

Grill the meat to medium rare or to your preference
Cut the meat across the grain thinly and lay the slices over the salad
Pour the rice powder and 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro on top--and dig in!