Steak with Watercress Salad and Chile-Lime Dressing

A flavorful combination of perfectly cooked rib eye steak served with a fresh watercress salad, dressed with a spicy chile-lime vinaigrette. The steak is marinated in a savory mixture of mustard and fish sauce, then pan-seared and finished with a butter baste.

4 servings
37 min

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons Chinese hot mustard powder or English mustard powder (such as Colman's)
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon demerara or light brown sugar, divided
  • 1 to taste Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
  • pounds boneless rib eye
  • 1 whole red Thai chile
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 bunch watercress
  • 2 whole Persian cucumbers
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
  • ¼ cup salted
  • ¼ cup dry-roasted peanuts
  • lightly crushed

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Whisk mustard powder, fish sauce, 1/2 tsp. demerara sugar, and 1 Tbsp. very hot water in a medium bowl until sugar is dissolved; season with salt and plenty of pepper. Add steak to bowl and turn several times to coat. Let sit while you make the vinaigrette.

    10 min

  2. 2.

    Whisk chile, lime juice, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and remaining 1/2 tsp. demerara sugar in a large bowl; set vinaigrette aside.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Add steak and cook, turning every couple of minutes, until nicely browned and medium-rare, 7-10 minutes. Add butter to skillet, then tilt skillet toward you and use a large spoon to baste steak with foaming butter for a minute longer. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

    15 min

  4. 4.

    Meanwhile, add watercress, cucumbers, and mint leaves to bowl with reserved vinaigrette and toss to combine; season salad with salt and pepper. Top with peanuts and drizzle with olive oil.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Slice steak and serve with salad.

    2 min