Crying Tiger (Thai-Style Grilled Steak with Chile Dipping Sauce)
4 rib eye or New York strip steaks, about 1 1/2-inches thick (about 12 ounces each)
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon plain vegetable oil
One recipe of Jaew (chile dipping Sauce)
2 plum tomatoes
Mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and vegetable oil in a medium mixing bowl. Coat the steaks with the soy sauce mixture and let them marinate while you work on the dipping sauce. Peel and deseed the tomatoes. Chop the pulp finely, and add it to prepared dried chili dipping sauce; set aside. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover gill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set all the burners on a gas grill to high heat. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Grill the steaks, turning frequently, until desired doneness is reached (medium-rare is recommended—steaks should register 125°F on an instant read thermometer when removed from grill). Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the steaks into 1/4-inch slices and serve with the dipping sauce. Warm sticky rice on the side is highly recommended.
Jaew (Thai Dried Chile Dipping Sauce)
1/2 cup fresh juice from 6 to 10 limes
1/2 cup Thai fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons finely-chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons finely-chopped green onions
1 1/2 tablespoons toasted rice powder
1 tablespoon dried red pepper powder
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix. Serve.