This Thai beef salad was outstanding — better than even some of the versions at my favorite Thai restaurants. Why? Because I can play, play, play with the recipe, and you can do the same. I made it my own by adding fresh mint, extra lime juice and several heapings of Thai ground red chile pepper for some serious kick. If you really want to bowl yourself over, sprinkle freshly ground toasted rice powder over the finished dish. The addition is utterly delicious and you’ll find yourself adding a sprinkle or two to many Thai dishes. Simply toast a few tablespoons of raw rice in a hot dry skillet until golden brown, then grind to a powder with a mortar and pestle. Meet my new favorite Thai beef salad. Now go make your own. This is easy weeknight cooking at its best.

Thai Beef Salad Up Close & Personal

To complete the meal, I added steamed broccolini that I adorned only with a few drops of sesame oil and a pinch of crunchy sea-salt mixed with lime zest.

Plated Meal

Steamed Broccolini with Sesame Oil and Lime Sea-Salt