Nam Tok Neua or Waterfall Beef

Nam Tok (literally, waterfall) is the North Eastern Thai or Isan food. The name “Nam Tok Neua”, or “waterfall beef” refers to the juices that flow out of the meat when it is cut, due to its being lightly grilled and so slightly rare in the center.

It is a popular Thai dish in among North Eastern Thai people or beef lovers. Actually most of the ingredients for Nam Tok are the same as “Laab” accept the meat and the process of cooking the meat is different. We use chopped meat in Laab and cook with the small amount of water in a pot. For Nam Tok, we use a big piece of meat and use grilling as the process of cooking.

For 2 servings

Ingredients

280 - 300 g.                 Beef loin (sirloin, tenderloin) or rib eye steak

1 - 2 cloves                  Garlic, chopped fine

Pinch of salt

1 tsp                             Sugar

1 tsp                            Vegetable oil (optional, if the meat has not much fat)

1 tsp                            Oyster sauce

½ tsp                           Soy sauce

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15 leaves                     Mints

4 - 5 leaves                 Culantro ( Eryngium foetidum leaves ) cut into ¼ inch long

4 - 5 leaves                 Kaffir lime leaves, cut into thin stripes

1 tbsp                         Galangal, chopped fine

2                                  Shallots, slice thin

1 ½ tbsp                     Lemongrass, chopped fine

1 tbsp                         Ground roasted sticky rice

½ tsp                          Ground Thai chili pepper (adjustable)

1 – 1½ tbsp               Fish sauce (adjustable, different brand of fish sauce has different level of sodium)

1 – 1 ½ tbsp              Lime juice

2 – 3 tbsp                 Chicken broth or beef broth (optional, if the mixture is too dry)

Vegetable Side Dish

(These vegetables are not processed; they are just plain fresh vegetables. We use them for breaking the feeling of hot and spicy on the tongue from a spicy food and at the same time we can get more nutrition from the vegetables beside from the meat and herbs in the mixture.)

  

Cabbage or Chinese Napa

Snake beans

Or any salad vegetable (like lettuce or cucumber) 

                            You can also follow the instructions from this video!

Instructions

1. Marinate beef with garlic, salt, sugar, (oil,) oyster sauce and soy sauce for at least ½ hour.
2. Grill the meat on charcoal, on gas or (broil) in oven until brown on both sides and the meat medium rare to medium cooked.
3. Slice the meat into ¼ inch thick and remove to the mixing bowl.
4. Add fish sauce, lime juice, beef broth, ground chili, ground roasted sticky rice, mints, cilantro, galangal, shallot, and lemongrass. Mix all well.
5. Add fresh vegetables on the side of the mixture and serve with hot sticky rice.