Roast beef salad with ginger sesame dressing and peanut sauce

This salad is perfect for al fresco eating, whether you decide to cook it on the barbecue or on a griddle pan so that it can be brought along as part of a picnic in separate containers so that it can be put together at the last minute.

4

Ingredients

    • 1 lb beef fillet, well trimmed
    • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
    • 1 small cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded and cut into 1cm slices
    • 4 red shallots, thinly sliced
    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 mild red chilli, seeded and thinly sliced
    • handful fresh mint leaves
    • handful fresh cilantro leaves
    • 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
    • 4 cups mixed green salad leaves

ASIAN DRESSING:

    • 2 tsp sugar
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 1 tsp freshly grated root ginger
    • 1 red chilli, seeded and very finely chopped
    • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

PEANUT SAUCE:

  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted)
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 lb beef fillet, well trimmed
    • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
    • 1 small cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded and cut into 1cm slices
    • 4 red shallots, thinly sliced
    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 mild red chilli, seeded and thinly sliced
    • handful fresh mint leaves
    • handful fresh cilantro leaves
    • 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
    • 4 cups mixed green salad leaves

ASIAN DRESSING:

    • 2 tsp sugar
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 1 tsp freshly grated root ginger
    • 1 red chilli, seeded and very finely chopped
    • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

PEANUT SAUCE:

  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted)
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Step 1

If using a griddle or saute pan, place over a high heat until very hot. Cook the steak over medium-hot coals on the barbecue or on the pan for 10–12 minutes until well marked on the outside and rare to medium-rare inside. Season with salt and set aside to set for up to 2 hours.

Step 2

Place the cucumber, shallots, cherry tomatoes, chilli, herbs and spring onions in a large bowl and gently toss together to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

Step 3

To make the dressing, dissolve the sugar in a screw-topped jar with the lime juice. Add the ginger, chilli and sesame oil and shake until well combined. Set aside until needed.

Step 4

To make the peanut sauce, place the peanuts in a blender with 3 tablespoons of water, the sunflower oil, soy sauce and chilli sauce. Blitz to a puree and season to taste.

Step 5

To serve, thinly slice the beef – it should be nice and rare. Whisk any meat juices into the peanut sauce. Combine the cucumber mixture and salad leaves with the Asian dressing. Divide the salad between plates and pile the beef mixture high on top. Drizzle over the peanut sauce to serve.

Method:

Step 1

If using a griddle or saute pan, place over a high heat until very hot. Cook the steak over medium-hot coals on the barbecue or on the pan for 10–12 minutes until well marked on the outside and rare to medium-rare inside. Season with salt and set aside to set for up to 2 hours.

Step 2

Place the cucumber, shallots, cherry tomatoes, chilli, herbs and spring onions in a large bowl and gently toss together to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until needed.

Step 3

To make the dressing, dissolve the sugar in a screw-topped jar with the lime juice. Add the ginger, chilli and sesame oil and shake until well combined. Set aside until needed.

Step 4

To make the peanut sauce, place the peanuts in a blender with 3 tablespoons of water, the sunflower oil, soy sauce and chilli sauce. Blitz to a puree and season to taste.

Step 5

To serve, thinly slice the beef – it should be nice and rare. Whisk any meat juices into the peanut sauce. Combine the cucumber mixture and salad leaves with the Asian dressing. Divide the salad between plates and pile the beef mixture high on top. Drizzle over the peanut sauce to serve.