4.9 from 75 votes
Classic Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua)
A classic Thai beef salad (Yum Nua) made with grilled steak, fresh herbs, and a tangy fish sauce and lime dressing. Light, refreshing, and full of bold Thai flavors — easy enough to make at home with simple ingredients.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 271 kcal
Course:
Salad , Lunch
Cuisine:
Thai
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb (340 g) beef tenderloin, rib-eye, sirloin, or striploin room temperature
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- dashes pepper
- 2 small cucumber or 1 English cucumber seeded and sliced
- 4 oz (113 g) cherry tomato cut in half
- 1 shallot sliced
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) mint loosely packed and torn
- 1/4 cup (60 ml ) cilantro loosely packed and torn
For salad dressing
- 1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp palm sugar or light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 fresh red chili finely minced
Instructions
- Season your beef steak with soy sauce and pepper. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Grill your steak over a very hot grill to get the grill marks. Cook to your desired done-ness. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
- For the salad dressing, mix together the fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and chili in a small bowl. Taste and adjust sweetness, saltiness and tartness according to your taste.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, cucumber, tomato, shallot, and herbs. Start with half the dressing, then taste and adjust — it's easy to overdo it. Always toss the salad just before serving to keep the greens crisp and the flavors balanced.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Allow the steak to sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes before cooking — this ensures more even grilling and enhances the flavor.
- It's best to serve the Thai beef salad right away. To make the salad ahead of time, you can prep everything ahead, but keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve.
Nutrition Information
Calories
271kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
19g
(29%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Cholesterol
60mg
(20%)
Sodium
836mg
(35%)
Potassium
478mg
(14%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
467IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
27mg
(30%)
Calcium
30mg
(3%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 271
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 271kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 60mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 836mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 478mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 467IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 27mg | 30% |
| Calcium | 30mg | 3% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.