Cambodian Peppered Beef Watercress & Tamarind Shrimp Soup

Peppered Beef on a bed of Watercress & Red Onions

Tamarind shrimp soup with squash, tomato, and pinapples  

What a yummy duo!

This dish is great with a bowl of white rice or brown rice. A lemon-garlic-pepper sauce can also accommodate the peppered beef for the ultimate flavor explosion. 

Ingredients:

1) Watercress - 1 bunch washed and dry

2) thinly sliced red onion - use about half

3) thinly sliced beef (I like to buy a good cut like a rib-eye) - for 2-3 people about a half a pound.

4) 1 tablespoon Canola or veg oil

4) Oyster Sauce - 3 tablespoon

5) Fish Sauce -1 teaspoon

6) Sugar - 1/2 tablespoon

7) Garlic - 5-6 cloves minced (reserve half for marinade and half to fry in pan)

9) Ground Pepper -1 tsp (use more until you can see on every piece of meat)

10) Miran (rice wine vinegar) - 1/2 tablespoon

11) Water - 1/2 cup

12) Cornstarch - 1/2 tablespoon

Instruction:

1. Start the marinade for the meat by placing the Oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic (half of the reserve), ground pepper and Miran in a bowl. Mix well and give it a little taste. 

2. Place the thinly sliced beef into the marinade. Leave in the fridge for 20-30 min.

3. While meat is marinating layout clean watercress on a large plate

4. place thinly sliced onions on top of watercress in a nice arrangement. Set aside for a bit. 

5. In a small bowl pour in the 1/2 cup water and dissolve the 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch. Stir and set a side for a moment. (Do this just a few minutes before meat is ready to be cooked)

6. Heat a large pan or wok with oil and throw in the half of the reserved garlic. Give it a quick stir to bring out the garlic aroma but be careful not to burn. 

7. Pour the meat and marinade into the pan/wok and cook for a few minutes until meat is cooked. This is where you can add additional pepper if meat is not peppery enough from marinade. If not salty enough, this is a good time to add either a little more fish sauce or salt. 

8. When meat is close to being cooked, place the cornstarch water mixture in. Stir well. 

9. You should have more sauce now with a semi-think consistency. 

10. Turn off heat and gently pour the entire content of the pan onto the watercress and red onions. Make sure to get the liquid marinade is all around the watercress salad and not just the center. 

Lime & Pepper dipping sauce

1) 2 lime (juiced)

2) Ground Pepper -1/3 teaspoon 

3) minced garlic -3-4 cloves minced

5) sugar - 1 teaspoon

6) splash of fish sauce -approx 1/2 teaspoon

Instruction:

1. In a small bowl mix the lime, ground pepper, minced garlic, sugar and fish sauce. 

Best way to eat:

Watercress is really bitter, so try to eat get some marinade juice on the watercress with piece of meat and ladle a spoonful of lime and pepper dipping sauce on top. This is best served with white rice. Enjoy and I would love to hear how it turned out!

Grilled Shrimp Salad w/ Coconut Lime Dressing

For a warm summer day, there is nothing better than a crisp light salad.  This salad combines classic Cambodian inspired ingredients with a Western presentation.  Grilled shrimp with fresh herbs and tropical fruit are topped off with a yummy coconut lime juice dressing. This recipe is both simple and beautiful to look at. 

Ingredients:
12-14 large or medium shrimp (shell removed, tail can be left on)
1 firm (nearly ripe) mango
generous handful of herbs such as basil, mint and cilantro
1/4 cup sliced red onions
3 cups washed Romain lettuce


Marinade for Shrimp
4 tbsp. oyster sauce 
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 cloves garlic minced 
2 tbsp. cilantro, minced
3 tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice


Coconut-Lime Dressing
1/2 coconut milk
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. fish sauce
3 tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 tbsp. dried crush chili flakes
2 tbsp. brown sugar


Cooking directions:
1. Place shrimp and mango in a bowl. Stir marinade ingredients together in a separate bowl or cup and pour over shrimp and mango. Toss gently and and set aside to marinate while you prep the salad. 
2. Take a small jar and place all dressing ingredients in the jar. Put on the lid and give it a good shake. Taste and add more of what ever you think it needs.
3. Place Romain lettuce in a large bowl. Toss in the the handful of herbs and sliced red onions. Set aside.
4. Skewer the marinated shrimp and fruit onto wooden bamboo sticks.
5. Lightly oil grill and place skewers on grill for 5-8 minutes per side. Shrimp is cooked when it is pinked and plump.
6. Serve the hot shrimp and fruit skewer over the cool salad and top with a generous amount of the dressing.