
Beef Salad
Slow cooking cheaper cuts of meat isn’t always the best option if you’re on a budget. While the meat is cheaper to buy, I can’t neglect the fact that energy costs money. This beef salad requires very little cooking and uses a cut of stewing beef.
You do need to plan ahead for this meal so I prepare the beef the night before. A sharp knife is also essential as you can’t make this salad without the finest slivers of beef, otherwise it becomes chewy and tough.
Rather than using expensive croutons for this recipe, I just toast up some bread until crispy, allow it to cool and then rip it to pieces.
Beef Salad (serves 5)
Ingredients
- 200g stewing steak in one piece
- 4 large tomatoes
- 2 large green chillis
- 8 slices of toast (white or brown it doesn’t matter)
- 2 teaspoons each of honey, soy sauce, olive oil and white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
Method
I do this the night before I intend to eat the beef salad, but you could sear the steak at lunch, and have this for dinner.
Take a heavy bottomed non-stick frying pan and heat it gradually until it’s smoking. Sear the steak for 4 minutes each side. I don’t use oil as there is normally some fat/marbling in the meat which helps the searing process. Remove the steak from the pan and put it on a plate, cover with cling film and allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating for at least 3 hours.
To serve:
Slice the tomatoes and chillis thinly, rip the toast into bite sized portions. Mix the remaining ingredients for the dressing in a large salad bowl, then toss the chopped tomatoes, chilli and toast in the dressing. Allow the toast to soak up some of the dressing.
Take a very sharp knife and slice the beef as finely as you possibly can. Wafer thin strips work best. Add to the salad bowl and toss everything together once last time before dividing into portions and eating.
Wholesome
Publication day is rapidly approaching and the book is now available to pre-order on my publisher’s website. I’ve arranged a discount code for my readers so use “wholesome20” when ordering to buy the book for €15 which also includes free postage. You can click on the image of the book cover below to order.
13 Comments
Emily
I’m so excited by the prospect of finally having your book in my hands 🙂 and the recipe is great too (!): I would have never thought of cooking/serving it like that. Xxx
Wholesome Ireland
Thanks Emily! x
Sandra
Can’t wait to try this. I visited Ireland in June 2014 and loved it! I’m Canadian and when I was there a lot of places served a type of cream with biscuits or scones and I’m trying to figure out what it was – it was so tasty. We have cream cheese here but it was lighter than that and so good. Would it be creme fraiche? I asked for cream in my coffee at one place and they gave me this thick cream. Anyway, thought you might know what it is. Love your blog and your country.
Wholesome Ireland
Hi Sandra, thanks for visiting.
I’m not too sure which cream you would have eaten with your scones but it could have been clotted cream which is a great treat. Alternatively it could have been whipped cream (I’d guess it’s more likely to have been this) If you asked for cream for your coffee you would have been given pouring/whipping cream – and not milk or creamer.
Sandra
I meant June 2103
Wholesome Ireland
🙂 I was wondering!
Amie
This looks wonderful. The chilli peppers real complete the look of the dish. Thanks for sharing.
Wholesome Ireland
Thank you. Personally I think that chilli peppers and beef are a magical combination!
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Searchingforspice
I love beef salads but have never tried this way of cooking stewing steak. I’ll have to give it a go.
Wholesome Ireland
Definitely give it a go. It’s very easy and tasty.
plasterer bristol
This sounds absolutely delcious. can’t wait to give this a go. Thanks simon
Caitriona Redmond
Thanks Simon I hope you enjoy it!