Crying Tiger Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
Steak
- 16 oz steak, I used NY strip
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Crying Tiger Sauce
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp toasted rice powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- ½ tbsp Thai chilies, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp scallions, finely sliced
- 2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
Optional Garnishes
- Cabbage
- Flaky salt
Instructions
- Season your steak generously with salt and black pepper on both sides.
- In a bowl, combine fish sauce, lime juice, toasted rice powder, sugar, Thai chilies, scallions, and cilantro. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
- Add oil to a pan over medium-high heat and add your steak. Cook for about 6½ minutes total, flipping every 30 seconds to ensure an even cook and a nice crust.
- Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
- Serve the sliced steak with the dipping sauce on the side. Optionally serve with cucumbers and tomatoes and finish with a sprinkle of flaky salt.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What Makes This Crying Tiger Steak So Amazing
A lot of times a steak as a full meal can feel a little bit heavy, but this Crying Tiger Steak is actually more refreshing instead. This is because the Crying Tiger sauce, which is made with fish sauce, lime juice, and a few other seasonings help balance the heaviness of the steak with its acidic, citrusy flavors. In my opinion, it’s the best parts of both worlds because it not only tastes amazing, but it won’t weight you down afterwards!
How One Ingredient Changes Everything
I actually think Crying Tiger Steak is defined by one ingredient, and it isn’t the steak, it’s the toasted rice powder. Not only does it give the sauce extra texture, but it adds these addicting smoky, slightly caramelized notes to the sauce that enhances the entire dish. The sauce already compliments the steak by counteracting the heavy flavors, but the toasted rice powder also enhances the beefiness of the steak, almost like what you get with a grilled piece of beef.
What You’ll Need To Make Crying Tiger Steak
Steak
- 16 oz steak, I used sirloin
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Crying Tiger Sauce
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp toasted rice powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- ½ tbsp Thai chilies, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp scallions, finely sliced
- 2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
Optional Garnishes
- Cabbage
- Flaky salt
How To Make Crying Tiger Steak
Season steak generously with salt and black pepper. Let it sit at room temp for 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix fish sauce, lime juice, toasted rice powder, sugar, Thai chilies, scallions, and cilantro. Set aside.
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add a bit of neutral oil. Add steak and cook for about 6½ minutes total, flipping every 30 seconds until desired doneness is reached.
Let steak rest for a few minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
Serve with the dipping sauce on the side and garnish with flaky salt. Add fresh veggies if desired.
Tips & Variations
In my opinion, you cannot substitute the toasted rice powder. If you do not have it, you can make it by toasting uncooked glutinous sweet rice or jasmine rice until golden brown before grinding or blending it into a fine powder.
If beef is still too heavy for you, you can substitute the steak out with grilled chicken thighs or thinly sliced pork shoulder.
Be careful, Thai chilies are very spicy. If you want to lessen the spice, use 1 tsp of sriracha or red chili flakes instead!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Crying Tiger Steak?
The name comes from a Thai story! Supposedly, the dipping sauce is so spicy it could make a tiger cry (though this version isn’t really that spicy).
What cut of steak works best?
NY strip, flank steak, or ribeye all work well. I personally like NY strip because it has the best balance of juiciness and lean meat, but it’s really up to you!
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes! Mix the sauce up to a day in advance and store it covered in the fridge. It gets even more flavorful the longer it sits in the fridge!
What to Make Next
If you love balanced flavors like this dish, try out my Seared Steak with Soy Garlic Butter Sauce!
Want chicken instead? Try out my Korean Fried Chicken!
Craving a healthy meal for the week? Try my Chicken and Broccoli!
