I can still remember the first time I tried Thai Beef Salad. I was in junior high and a Thai restaurant opened in my town. I could not believe the flavor explosions that were happening in my mouth—the cilantro, the mint, the lime juice, the salty fish sauce. It all worked together to create magical deliciousness. It's still one of my favorite "salads" and something I order everytime we have Thai food.
When making it at home, I don't follow any specific recipe. I make it when we have leftover steak to use up. I add greens (in the case above I added lettuce and watercress), cukes, the thai herb trio of cilantro; mint, and Thai basil; plenty of lime juice; and fish sauce. My girls go nuts over this.
You can make a dressing or sauce for it like this one, or you can do what I do when I am in a pinch: I just add fresh lime juice and fish sauce to regular, plain vinaigrette.
