Yum Nua Yang is a vibrant and refreshing Thai beef salad that combines the flavors of grilled beef with fresh vegetables and herbs. This dish is perfect for a light lunch or a flavorful appetizer, offering a delightful balance of spicy, tangy, and savory notes.
When preparing this recipe, you might need to visit the supermarket for a few specific ingredients. Fish sauce is a staple in Thai cuisine, providing a salty and umami flavor. Fresh mint leaves and cilantro are essential for the herbaceous notes in the salad. Ensure you have lime juice for the tangy dressing and chili flakes for a bit of heat.

Ingredients For Yum Nua Yang Recipe
Beef sirloin: Thinly sliced for quick grilling and tender texture.
Cherry tomatoes: Halved to add a burst of sweetness and color.
Cucumber: Sliced thin for a refreshing crunch.
Red onion: Adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the salad.
Mint leaves: Fresh and aromatic, they elevate the dish with a cool, herbal note.
Cilantro: Chopped to add a fresh, citrusy flavor.
Fish sauce: Provides a salty, umami depth to the dressing.
Lime juice: Freshly squeezed for a bright, tangy flavor.
Sugar: Balances the acidity and heat in the dressing.
Chili flakes: Adds a spicy kick to the salad.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When grilling the beef, ensure the grill is preheated to a high temperature to achieve a good sear. This will lock in the juices and create a flavorful crust. Let the beef rest for a few minutes after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring each slice is tender and juicy.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
beef sirloin - Substitute with chicken breast: Chicken breast can be grilled and sliced thinly, providing a leaner protein option while still absorbing the flavors of the marinade.
beef sirloin - Substitute with tofu: For a vegetarian option, firm tofu can be grilled and sliced thinly, offering a similar texture and ability to absorb the marinade.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes have a similar sweetness and juiciness, making them a suitable replacement.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with regular tomatoes: Regular tomatoes can be chopped into small pieces to mimic the size and texture of cherry tomatoes.
cucumber - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini can be sliced thinly and offers a similar crunch and mild flavor.
cucumber - Substitute with celery: Celery provides a crisp texture and a refreshing flavor, similar to cucumber.
red onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder flavor and can be sliced thinly to replace red onion.
red onion - Substitute with green onions: Green onions offer a milder taste and can be used to add a similar onion flavor.
mint leaves - Substitute with basil leaves: Basil leaves provide a fresh and aromatic flavor, similar to mint.
mint leaves - Substitute with cilantro: Cilantro can add a fresh and slightly citrusy flavor, though it will change the overall taste profile slightly.
cilantro - Substitute with parsley: Parsley offers a fresh and slightly peppery flavor, making it a good alternative to cilantro.
cilantro - Substitute with dill: Dill provides a fresh and slightly tangy flavor, which can complement the other ingredients well.
fish sauce - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce provides a salty and umami flavor, making it a good alternative for fish sauce.
fish sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and offers a similar umami flavor.
lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a similar acidity and freshness, making it a suitable replacement for lime juice.
lime juice - Substitute with rice vinegar: Rice vinegar offers a mild acidity and can be used to replace lime juice in the dressing.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey adds sweetness and a slight floral note, making it a good alternative to sugar.
sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup provides sweetness and a unique flavor, which can complement the other ingredients well.
chili flakes - Substitute with fresh chili: Fresh chili can be finely chopped to add heat and a fresh flavor.
chili flakes - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper provides a similar level of heat and can be used as a direct replacement for chili flakes.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- To store Yum Nua Yang, first ensure the beef is completely cooled to room temperature. This prevents condensation and keeps the salad fresh.
- Transfer the salad to an airtight container. Separate the vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion from the beef if possible to maintain their crispness.
- Store the dressing (a mix of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes) in a small, sealed container. This prevents the vegetables from becoming soggy.
- Keep the salad and dressing in the refrigerator. The beef and vegetables will stay fresh for up to 2 days.
- For freezing, place the cooled, sliced beef in a freezer-safe bag or container. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of freshness. The beef can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- When ready to use, thaw the beef in the refrigerator overnight. Reassemble the salad with fresh vegetables and the stored dressing for the best taste and texture.
- Avoid freezing the vegetables and dressing as they do not retain their quality well when frozen.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Add a splash of olive oil or a few drops of water to prevent sticking.
- Add the sliced beef and vegetables to the pan.
- Stir gently for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
- Avoid overcooking to maintain the freshness of the vegetables.
Microwave Method:
- Place the Yum Nua Yang in a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a few holes for ventilation.
- Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Check the temperature and heat in 30-second intervals if needed.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Place the Yum Nua Yang in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Heat for about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Steaming Method:
- Set up a steamer basket over boiling water.
- Place the Yum Nua Yang in the basket.
- Cover and steam for 3-5 minutes.
- Check to ensure the beef and vegetables are heated through.
Sous Vide Method:
- Place the Yum Nua Yang in a vacuum-sealed bag.
- Set your sous vide machine to 130°F (54°C).
- Submerge the bag in the water bath for 30-45 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately for a perfectly reheated dish.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Grill: Used to cook the beef sirloin to a medium-rare doneness, ensuring a smoky flavor and perfect sear.
Tongs: Essential for flipping the beef on the grill without piercing it, which helps retain juices.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for slicing the grilled beef, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
Sharp knife: Necessary for thinly slicing the beef and vegetables with precision.
Mixing bowl: Used to combine the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes, as well as to toss all the ingredients together.
Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate measurement of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes for the dressing.
Spoon: Useful for stirring the dressing until the sugar dissolves completely.
Serving platter: Ideal for presenting the finished dish attractively, garnished with extra mint and cilantro if desired.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Pre-slice ingredients: Prepare the beef sirloin, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion in advance to save time during assembly.
Make the dressing ahead: Mix the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes beforehand and store in the fridge.
Use a grill pan: If you don't have access to an outdoor grill, a grill pan can cook the beef quickly and efficiently.
Batch cook: Grill extra beef and store it for future meals to cut down on prep time.
Chill ingredients: Keep vegetables and herbs chilled to maintain freshness and crispness.

Yum Nua Yang Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 500 g Beef sirloin sliced thin
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup Cucumber sliced
- 1 cup Red onion sliced thin
- 1 cup Fresh mint leaves
- 1 cup Fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoon Fish sauce
- 2 tablespoon Lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chili flakes
Instructions
- 1. Grill the beef until medium-rare, about 3-4 minutes per side. Let it rest, then slice thinly.
- 2. In a mixing bowl, combine fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili flakes. Stir until sugar dissolves.
- 3. Add the sliced beef, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, mint leaves, and cilantro to the bowl. Toss to combine.
- 4. Serve immediately, garnished with extra mint and cilantro if desired.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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