Another Salad

Thai Style Steak Salad by Rachel Ray

3 garlic cloves, chopped
2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons tamari (dark aged soy sauce, found on the international aisle)
2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds flank steak
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 English or seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
5 radishes, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded carrots (available in pouches in the produce department)
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (a generous handful), chopped
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn
1 sack (12 ounces) baby spinach or 3/4 pound from bulk bins, washed and patted dry
1/4 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped

Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat.

In a small bowl, mix the garlic, three fourths of the grated ginger, the tamari, and hot sauce. Whisk in about 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil. Place the meat in a shallow dish and coat it evenly in marinade. Let stand for 10 minutes.

In a small skillet, toast the shredded coconut until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it; the coconut can go from golden brown to burnt, quickly. Remove the toasted coconut from the skillet and reserve.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ginger, the sugar, rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a slow, steady stream.*

In a salad bowl, combine the cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes, shredded credits, onions, mint, cilantro, and basil. Pour the dressing over the veggies, toss to coat, and let sit while you cook the steak.

Grill the flank steak for 6 to 7 minutes on each side. Remove the flank steak from the grill and let the juices redistribute before slicing, 5 to 10 minutes. Thinly slice the meat on an angle, cutting the meat against the grain. To the dressed veggies, add the spinach, sliced steak, toasted coconut, and chopped peanuts, toss thoroughly and serve.

*I didn't make the dressing because I didn't have rice wine vinegar. I used this instead:

It was delicious.