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Thai Grilled Steak Salad (Nam Tok)

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Nam tok น้ำตก is a grilled meat Thai salad that hails from the northeast of Thailand. This version made with beef is a “steak salad,” but this isn’t your average bowl of leafy greens with a sliced steak on top. Nam tok is made almost entirely of steak; no vegetables, just lots of fresh herbs and a spicy, tart dressing. Served with sticky rice, it’s one of the best dishes the Northeast has to offer, and is so easy to make at home!

A plate of Thai grilled steak salad with sticky rice - nam tok neua
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What is “Nam Tok”?

Nam tok literally means “falling water” or “waterfall,” so you might have seen this steak called “waterfall salad” on some menus. The name refers to the dripping (i.e., falling) of meat juices as it’s being grilled; so the one requirement for this dish is that the meat has to be grilled. There are two common types of nam tok: one made with pork, usually grilled pork jowl, and the other made with beef.

Ingredients

Ingredients for steak marinadeIngredients for steak marinade
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Ingredients for the Steak Marinade

This marinade is a simplified version of my ultimate steak marinade recipe because the steaks are going to get even more flavour from the salad.

  • Grilling steaks. Pictured are picanha steaks, also known as “top sirloin cap,” but any other grilling steaks can be used. In Thailand, tri-tip is quite common.
  • Oyster sauce. Check out this post for how to choose the best oyster sauce.
  • Soy sauce. Watch this video for a soy sauce 101.
  • Sugar
  • Water
  • Neutral oil
  • Black pepper
Ingredients for steak saladIngredients for steak salad
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Ingredients for the Salad

  • Uncooked jasmine or glutinous rice for making toasted rice powder
  • Makrut lime leaf (optional, not pictured). This is for adding fragrance to the toasted rice powder.
  • Cilantro
  • Mint
  • Shallots
  • Lemongrass
  • Shallots
  • Sawtooth coriander (optional, not pictured)
  • Roasted chili flakes – You can simply toast some plain chili flakes in a dry skillet over low heat for just a minute or so, until it darkens slightly and smells smoky. Or toast whole chilies, then grind.
  • Fish sauce. Learn more about choosing the best fish sauce here.
  • Lime juice
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Thai sticky rice, for serving. This salad is always paired with sticky rice and I highly recommend it. Check out this post for how to make sticky rice.

How to Make Thai Grilled Steak Salad

Here’s a bird’s eye view of how to make neua yang nam tok, but be sure to watch the video tutorial first to ensure success!

process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 1-4process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 1-4
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  1. Make the marinade by combining all ingredients.
  2. Marinade steaks for at least 2 hours.
  3. Grill the steaks, flipping at least twice for more even cooking.
  4. I recommend medium to medium-well doneness for this recipe. Rare steaks don’t hold up as well in this salad.
process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 5-8process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 5-8
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  1. Toast the rice with a makrut lime leaf in a dry skillet or wok until browned.
  2. Grind into a powder.
  3. Slice the steak and place into a mixing bowl, adding any juices collected during resting.
  4. Add all dressing ingredients and the toasted rice powder and toss.
process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 9-10process shots for making nam tok steak salad steps 9-10
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  1. Toss in all the fresh herbs.
  2. Serve immediately with sticky rice!

PS. If you love beef, also try this shaking beef recipe that’s even quicker to make than this salad!

There are sooo many cuts of beef on the market, and it’s impossible to remember which cut is good for what. If you’ve ever wanted to try a new cut but not sure what to do with it, check this out. Canada Beef, our sponsor for this post, has launched the Canadian Beef Information Gateway which breaks down over 70 cuts of beef, complete with info on how to best cook them and new recipes you can try out.

Check it out and you’ll be amazed! Access the Gateway here or scan this QR code below!

CB Gateway QR CodeCB Gateway QR Code

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cut of steak for a steak salad?

There are a lot of options depending on your budget. I’m using picanha for this, which can be hard to find, so any of the following would be a good choice: tri-tip, top sirloin, hanger, bavette (flap), skirt, flank, or flat iron. Higher amounts of marbling (fat) is better, so keep that in mind when you’re looking at all the options.

Can I make this salad in advance?

You can prep some of the components in advance, but I recommend tossing the salad right before serving as the toasted rice powder will absorb all the moisture from the dressing and the herbs will wilt. You can do any of the following ahead of time:

– Marinate the steaks up to one day ahead. Marinated steaks can also be frozen.
– Cook the steaks up to a few days ahead. Keep it in the fridge and re-grill to heat it up before serving.
– Toast the rice. Keep it in a sealed container and grind when ready to use.
– Up to a few hours before serving; chop the herbs and combine the seasonings for the dressing.

Can I make this with another meat?

Yes! Pork is another common meat used for nam tok, and you can use the recipe for Thai BBQ pork jowl here for the marinade. Other meats are not common for this dish in Thailand, but you can certainly try it with chicken (dark meat recommended) or lamb.

A plate of Thai grilled steak salad with sticky rice - nam tok neuaA plate of Thai grilled steak salad with sticky rice - nam tok neua

Thai Grilled Steak Salad – Neua Yang Nam Tok

A steak salad recipe like you’ve never seen before. Marinated grilled steaks are thinly sliced and tossed with an abundance of Thai herbs and a spicy tart dressing. A classic dish of Northeastern Thailand.