Thai beef salad.

Serves 2 to 3

Ingredients:

•1-lb decent quality steak, sirloin or other.
•10 (or more) fresh hot Thai chili peppers, slice crosswise very thin (or substitute jalapenos or Serrano chilies, minced.
•2 large cloves garlic, sliced crosswise very thin.
•1 tbsp sugar.
•5 tbsp fish sauce (Golden Boy brand is recommended).
•5 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice (1 medium size lime).
•1 head Bibb or Boston; or 1 heart of Romaine lettuce.
•12 sprigs fresh mint (optional), remove the leaves and discard the stems.
•1/2 hot house cucumber or 1 small cucumber (seeds removed), peeled and sliced thin.
•2 to 3 shallots, sliced crosswise very thin or 1 small red onion, sliced very thin.
•3 or 4 sprigs cilantro stems removed.

Thai Beef Salad Preparation:

Grill or broil the steak until medium-rare. Trim off any fat. Cool and slice thin, into pieces approx. 2 inches across and 1/8 inch thick.

Mix garlic, chiles, fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar in a small bowl. Add the sliced meat and toss with the cucumbers and shallots. Taste and add more fish sauce if desired.

Make a bed of the lettuce on a serving plate. Place the beef on top. Garnish with cilantro.