Stir-fried beef with roasted chilli jam, shallots & kale

This stir-fry is not just another dish; it's a flavour-packed journey that takes your taste buds on a wild ride. With a history deeply rooted in the bustling streets of Thailand, stir-frying has been a beloved cooking method for centuries, known for its ability to quickly cook ingredients while preserving their vibrant flavours and textures. The star of this dish, the beef flat iron, is a modern cut that has become a favourite for its marbled fat and tender texture, perfect for a quick sear in a sizzling wok. And let's not forget the roasted chilli jam, a smoky, spicy delight that brings the whole dish together. Legend has it that this relish was born out of necessity in Thai villages, where grilling over open flames was the norm, and the result was a relish that could elevate any meal.

Serves: 2-3
Dietary Information: Gluten-Free

Ingredients:

• 200g beef flat iron, sliced against the grain into 2cm thick pieces

• 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground to a powder

• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and ground to a powder

• ½ teaspoon chilli powder

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 4 banana shallots, peeled and thickly sliced lengthways

• 30g kale, stems removed and torn into bite-sized pieces

• 50ml beef stock

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 tablespoon palm sugar

• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

• 2 tablespoons thick tamarind water

• 150g flat rice noodles (soaked in cold water until soft as per packet instructions)

• 50g roasted chilli jam (recipe below)

Roasted Chilli Jam Relish ‘Nahm Prik Pao’

This relish lets the barbecue smoke do most of the talking. Threading the ingredients onto skewers means they can be barbecued with ease. They will soften and char at different rates, because of their moisture content and size. Leave the skins on where possible, as this will help them to smoke and roast within.

Makes: About 400g (6-8 servings)
Dietary Information: Gluten-Free / Vegetarian Optional

Ingredients for Relish:

• 150g cherry tomatoes, skewered

• 6 long red chillies, skewered

• 6 green bird’s-eye chillies, skewered

• 1 head garlic, skewered

• 50g Thai shallots (any small shallots will taste good), skewered

• 4 banana shallots, skewered

• 2 sticks lemongrass, slightly bruised in a mortar and pestle

• 2 tablespoons thick tamarind water

• 2 tablespoons palm sugar (soft light brown sugar will do)

• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (or soy sauce if vegetarian)

• 2 teaspoons smoked chilli powder

• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander roots

• juice of 2 limes

Instructions for Relish:

1. Light the barbecue to a high heat. I much prefer to cook this over wood, however, charcoal or even gas will work fine.

2. Grill each vegetable skewer, turning regularly to ensure that the vegetables are softened and lightly charred around the outside.

3. Remove the skewers from the heat and allow to cool slightly until cool enough to handle.

4. Remove the chilli stems and the garlic and shallot skins. Remove the core and the tough outer sheaths of the lemongrass, then chop the soft part of the lemongrass into small pieces.

5. Add all this to a food processor or large mortar and pestle with the tamarind water, palm sugar, fish sauce, chilli powder, and coriander roots, and pound or blitz to a moist, coarse paste.

6. Finally, stir in the lime juice and check for seasoning: the relish should be smoky, spicy, salty, and sour.

Instructions for Stir-Fry:

1. Place the beef in a bowl and add the cumin, coriander seeds, chilli powder, and 1 tablespoon of the oil, then mix together with your hands. Set aside at arm’s reach of the wok alongside all the other ingredients, ready to make the stir-fry.

2. Heat the remaining oil in a large wok over high heat until it is smoking hot. Add the beef and give the wok a little shake to make sure the beef doesn’t stick to it (the coating of oil on the meat and in the wok should stop it from sticking completely).

3. Stir-fry the beef for about 30 seconds until it is sealed on all sides.

4. Add the chilli jam, shallots, and kale, and stir-fry for another minute or so until the vegetables have softened.

5. Lastly, add the soaked rice noodles and stir-fry for a minute or two until the noodles are translucent and cooked throughout.

6. Deglaze the wok with the stock, fish sauce, palm sugar, vinegar, and tamarind water, tossing the ingredients once more to combine fully. The dish should taste rich, sweet, salty, smoky, and sour.

7. If preferred, the noodles can be removed from the recipe, and the stir-fry can be served with steamed jasmine rice.

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!