"GRILLED STEAK AND GREEN PAPAYA SALAD"

Craving for Thai food? The Papaya Salad recipe here is an authentic version that I usually see as a standard side used with Thai dishes, especially with meat dishes. There are modified recipes of this Papaya Salad that sometimes require rice vinegar instead of lime juice. I suggest you try alternating lime with vinegar, just so you know which you prefer better. I prefer using the lime because of the subtle sour taste and blends well with the honey.

Grilling the meat to medium rare will keep it really tender, but if you want your meat well-done, just cook it longer than 10 minutes.

But be sure to tent it with foil after grilling/before slicing it. This keeps the meat juicy and really tender.

- CHICHAY

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"GRILLED STEAK AND GREEN PAPAYA SALAD"

Grilled Steak

What You Need:

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped


• 1 Thai bird chile, chopped


• 2 tablespoons soy sauce


• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice


• 2 to 3 tablespoons honey


• 1/4 cup peanut oil (or olive oil)


• 1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin or sirloin


• Salt and freshly ground pepper

How To:

-Whisk together the garlic, chile, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, and oil.
-Place beef in a small baking dish, pour the marinade over, and turn to coat.
-Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour.
-Preheat the grill to medium-high.
-Remove the beef from the marinade and season it with salt and pepper.
-Grill meat until charred and cooked to medium-rare doneness, about 10 to 12 minutes.
-Remove from grill, tent with foil, and let rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/4-inch thick slices.

Green Papaya Salad (Som Dum)

What You Need:

1 large Green Papaya (yield is 2-3 cups)
2 big cloves garlic peeled (crushed lightly)
4 Thai red and green chili peppers or 1 Serrano peppers (crushed lightly)
1/2 cup of sliced tomatoes
1 tbs Coconut Palm Sugar (or regular sugar/splenda)
2-3 tbs. fish sauce (patis)
2 tbsp lime juice
1/4 cup roasted peanuts(optional)
3-4 green beans (optional)
1 cup of shredded iceberg lettuce

How To:

-Peel the skin from the green papaya
-Use a shredder and shred the papaya
[CHICHAY TIP: if you do not have time to do your own shredding, you can buy from the local Asian Market freshly-shredded papaya and carrots. They are available at the 99 Ranch Market.)
-Mix together and gently smash together the garlic and chili peppers.
-Add shredded papaya and mix well.
-Add in sliced tomatoes, sugar, fish sauce lime juice, and mix well together, mashing lightly.
-Serve the papaya salad on a bed of the shredded lettuce, and top with the sliced grilled beef.
-Top with roasted peanuts and green beans (optional).