Crying Tiger

Crying Tiger, a Thai dish otherwise known as Seua Rong Hai is sliced barbecued beef accompanied by a Nam Jim dipping sauce of which there are several different variations. The name 'Crying Tiger' is thought to be attributed to the small yet extremely potent red bird chilis in the sauce that are hot enough to bring tears to a tiger's eyes. The particular Nam Jim I prepared consisted of toasted rice powder which gives the sauce a nutty taste.

The meat used in this dish should always have a thin layer of fat on it, which when flamed grilled, adds to its smokey and delicious flavour.

      

Crying Tiger Recipe

2 pieces of grain-fed topside beef
2 tbs of light soy sauce
2 tbs of fish sauce

Dipping Sauce

1/3 cup of fish sauce
1/3 cup of fresh lime juice
2 tbs of water
3 bird chilis
1 tbs ground toasted rice
1 shallot
1/4 tsp of palm sugar

Method:

1. Marinate the beef in the soy and fish sauce. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
2. Prepare the dipping sauce by mixing the fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar and water together.
3. Dice the bird chilis and the shallot. Add to the dipping sauce mixture.
4. To toast the rice, add 1/8 cup of rice to a frypan on medium heat. Once the rice starts to brown, shake the pan vigorously to ensure it doesn't burn.
5. Once the rice is ready, grind it with a mortar and pestle until it becomes powder. Add 1 tbs of the powder to the dipping sauce mixture and stir well.
6. The next step is to heat up the barbecue for 10 minutes or until the grill is hot and then throw on the meat. Cook until medium rare, this should take about 8-10 minutes.
7. Once the meat is ready, slice it and arrange it on a serving plate and spoon the sauce over it or just have the sauce in a small bowl to one side.

Three cheers and a crying tiger!

Comments

[tim]

Looks great.

I've heard a number of different stories about why its called crying tiger, and have been told it's not because of the heat (though that is what I had assumed the name meant).

One story says that the dish comes from a time when there were many tigers roaming the forests around Isan. When the tigers came to the village in search of food, they would kill cattle. The first Tiger would always get the best meat from the kill. When the second tiger discovered this, it would cry out because its meat wasn't the best.

Another story goes that the meat sounds like a crying tiger as it sizzles on the grill.

[Jim]

I have overpaid the local thai place for this stuff so many times. Now I finally have a reason to make it myself. Thanks!

[Lu-i]

I have been searching for this recipe, can't wait to try it!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

[ali]

beef is fantastic this way. ul never eat your steak without it again. made a different type of sauce which was too thick and didnt really work so im trying this tonite