I'm confused beef salad

I will be the first to admit that I'm not a good food photographer. I try but I'm not the best. Imagine my surprise when a picture like that came up in the camera. "U mean I took this?" - I literally shouted for Mr AR to come and have a look. It's nothing amazing if you compare these pictures to talented bloggers like Evan, Rasa Malaysia, Jaden from Steamy Kitchen and Culinary concoctions by Peabody. These pictures however make me feel as if I'm starting to learn how to take decent photographs of food. I'm sure I still need lots more work on it but maybe just maybe with lots of hope maybes, I'm slowly getting it?

I call this the "I'm confused beef salad". Simply because I didn't know if that was Japanese or Thai inspired. My last visit to Cafe Ruchee left me drooling for more beef salad, so I make my own! ;p On top of that, I was so inspired after reading Jaden's very scientific way of making "Gucci prime steak" from "cheap cuts". Previously, I shy away from grilling or cooking steak but thought it's high time I give it a go again.

So I started off with good intentions of making this Thai style and then quickly realised that our basil and coriander plant wasn't looking too healthy. I opened my fridge and found some feta cheese that I have to finish using, so in the cheese went. In the last minute, I also decided that some mirin and sesame seeds will be nice in the dressing, so in they went. So anyway, to cut the long story short, this is a one confused salad. A salad that was Thai inspired with hints of Jap and... erm.. hmm.. Australian cheese? (the feta was made in Australia).

I really really like this salad. Probably the best steak I have done. Who would have guessed that sea salt is the secret ingredient towards making the best steak ever. Thanks to Jaden from Steamy Kitchen- that's a wonderful tip and one that I will use over and over again!


I'm confused beef salad
2 pieces of "Cheap cut beef"- I used porterhouse steak.
2 pieces of feta cheese
mixed salad leaves
half a cucumber
1/2 cup of cashew nuts
Sea salt

Dressing
3-4 tablespoons of mirin
1 teaspoon of sugar
2 tablespoon of fish sauce (see, thai inspired)
2 teaspoon of sesame seed
1 teaspoon of sesame oil

Method
1) Sprinkle steaks liberally with sea salt. Leave to marinate for 1-2 hours. See Jaden's blog if you want to know the hows and whys.
2) Heat up your grill pan. Wash steaks. Pat it dry with paper towels. Season it with pepper.
3) Grill steak for 3 mins each side. Leave it to rest for 3-5 mins.
4) Meanwhile, assemble salad leaves, feta cheese and cucumber.
5) Toast cashews.
6) Slice steak.
7) Mix dressing ingredients.
8) Place sliced beef on top of salad leaves. Sprinkle cashews over it. Drizzle dressing over salad.
9) Serve it straight away!

ah........