Description
Crying Tiger Beef with Nam Jim Jaew is a flavorful Thai dish featuring tender, marinated flank steak grilled to perfection and served with a tangy, spicy dipping sauce. This recipe highlights the perfect balance of salty, sour, sweet, and spicy flavors, making it a crowd-pleasing main course ideal for sharing alongside sticky rice or fresh salads.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Marinade
- 1 pound flank steak or ribeye (flavorful & tender cut)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For Nam Jim Jaew (Dipping Sauce)
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce (salty umami depth)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (zesty tang)
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste (sweet-sour balance)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (adjust for spice level)
- 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder (khao khua) (adds nutty crunch)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
Instructions
- Marinate the Beef: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and vegetable oil. Coat the steak evenly with the marinade and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight in the refrigerator for deeper flavor penetration.
- Prepare Nam Jim Jaew (Dipping Sauce): In a small bowl, combine fish sauce, lime juice, tamarind paste, sugar, and chili flakes. Stir in the toasted rice powder, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, and green onion. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as necessary to balance flavors.
- Grill the Beef: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the marinated steak on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or cook longer according to your preferred doneness. Once cooked, remove the steak from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices.
- Slice and Serve: Slice the rested steak thinly against the grain and arrange on a serving plate. Serve alongside the prepared Nam Jim Jaew dipping sauce. Complement the dish with sticky rice, grilled vegetables, or a fresh Thai salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Marinating the beef overnight enhances the flavor and tenderness significantly.
- Toasted rice powder (khao khua) can be made by dry roasting sticky rice until golden and grinding it to a coarse powder.
- Adjust chili flakes in the dipping sauce to control the heat level to your preference.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for your preferred steak doneness: 130°F for medium-rare, 140°F for medium.
- Resting the steak after grilling is crucial to preserving its juiciness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Thai
