Thai Steak Skewers Recipes

Steps:

• Pickle the cucumbers: In a small saucepan, heat the sugar, salt, vinegar and 1/4 cup water over medium-high heat until the sugar and salt dissolve; remove from the heat. Put the cucumber, chile and red onion in a medium bowl and pour the hot brine over them. Let cool, then add the cilantro. Chill.
• Make the beef skewers: In a medium bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Pour half of the mixture into a serving bowl, add the lime juice and reserve as a dipping sauce. Put the beef cubes in a zip-top bag and pour in the remaining marinade. Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the meat. Put in a bowl and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Preheat a grill to high. Drain the meat, discarding the marinade. Thread the cubes onto skewers (1 to 4 per skewer), separating each cube with a piece of scallion. Grill directly over the coals, turning once, until nicely charred, about 3 minutes per side. Sprinkle with sliced scallions. Serve warm or cold with the reserved marinade for dipping and the pickled cucumber and chiles on the side. Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to keep them from burning on the grill. Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

Steps:

• Place ginger, garlic, onion, brown sugar, fish sauce, vegetable oil, soy sauce, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne pepper into a mixing bowl; whisk into a smooth marinade.
• Bruise lemon grass by hitting it lightly several times with the back of a large chef's knife; mince the lemon grass and add to the marinade.
• Cut beef sirloin into strips about 2 1/2 inches long and 1/8 inch thick. Thoroughly mix the beef into marinade until all beef strips are completely coated, about 1 minute. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove beef from marinade and shake off excess marinade. Thread 1/4 the meat onto each metal skewer.
• Arrange skewers on the preheated grill and cook until the meat stops sticking to the grill, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip skewers over onto other side and cook until meat is well browned and shows grill marks, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Turn onto first side again and cook until meat is still slightly pink, 2 more minutes. Transfer to a platter and let skewers rest about 2 more minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Marinate the beef: Cut the flank steak across the grain into slices 1/4 inch thick. In a shallow glass or ceramic dish just large enough to hold the meat, stir together the sake, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and coriander. Add the flank steak and stir to coat thoroughly. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• Prepare the skewers and the grill: Meanwhile, soak 12 bamboo skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for direct-heat cooking over high heat and oil the grill rack. Or, preheat a broiler.
• Cook the beef: Drain the skewers. Remove the meat from the marinade, discarding the marinade. Thread the meat onto the skewers, dividing the meat evenly.
• Place the skewers on the grill rack, or put on a rimmed baking sheet and place under the broiler. Cook, turning once or twice, until seared, 3-4 minutes total for medium-rare, or done to your liking. Divide the skewers among dinner plates and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Combine pork, sugar, fish sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix together thoroughly. Dissolve baking powder in 1 tablespoon water and blend completely into the pork mixture. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread a handful of the pork mixture through a skewer using lightly oiled hands. Shape meat into a 1-inch-thick sausage around the skewer. Repeat with the remaining pork and skewers.
• Grill skewers, turning as needed, until browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Cut each sausage into bite-sized pieces before serving.