Description
Crying Tiger (Suea Rong Hai) is a Thai grilled beef dish with a smoky, charred exterior and juicy, tender inside. It’s served with Nam Jim Jaew, a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet dipping sauce made with fish sauce, lime juice, chili flakes, and toasted rice powder.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Beef:
- 1.5 lbs ribeye, sirloin, or flank steak
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground white pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Nam Jim Jaew Sauce:
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp tamarind paste (or more lime juice if unavailable)
- 1 tsp palm sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 tbsp toasted rice powder (see notes below)
- 1 tbsp chili flakes (adjust for spice level)
- 1 small shallot, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp chopped green onions
Instructions
1. Marinate the Beef:
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, vegetable oil, brown sugar, white pepper, and garlic.
- Rub the marinade onto the beef and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, preferably 2-4 hours for deeper flavor.
2. Make the Nam Jim Jaew Sauce:
- In a small bowl, mix fish sauce, lime juice, tamarind paste, sugar, chili flakes, and toasted rice powder until well combined.
- Stir in shallots, cilantro, and green onions.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
3. Grill the Beef:
- Heat a grill or cast-iron pan over high heat.
- Grill the beef for 3-5 minutes per side (depending on thickness and desired doneness).
- Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing it thinly against the grain.
4. Serve & Enjoy:
- Arrange the sliced beef on a plate and serve with Nam Jim Jaew sauce on the side.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with sticky rice or jasmine rice.
Notes
- How to make toasted rice powder: Toast 2 tbsp uncooked sticky rice in a dry pan over medium heat until golden brown. Let it cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar & pestle or spice grinder.
- The name Crying Tiger comes from Thai folklore, where it’s said the dipping sauce is so spicy that it makes even a tiger cry! 🐅🔥
- This dish pairs well with grilled vegetables, papaya salad, or a fresh Thai herb salad.