Yogurt Noodle Beef Bowl

• 100 g Nonfat Greek yogurt (½ cup)
• 80 g raw Cucumber (2.8 oz raw)
• 5 g raw (1½ cloves) Garlic
• 15 g Lemon juice (1 tbsp)
• 5 g raw Fresh mint (⅓ cup chopped)
• 1.5 g Salt (¼ tsp)
• 1 liter, for boiling Water (about 4 cups, for boiling)
• 70 g dry Rice noodles (2.5 oz dry)
• 170 g raw Top sirloin steak (6.0 oz raw)
• 0.5 g Black pepper (¼ tsp)
• 6 g Olive oil (1⅓ tsp)

You'll need: Medium saucepan, Colander, Frying pan, Tongs, Small bowl, Grater, Cutting board and knife.

Method

1. Stir together the minty yogurt sauce

   Dice the cucumber and chop the mint. Grate the garlic. In the small bowl, stir the yogurt with the garlic, the lemon juice, half the cucumber, half the mint and a pinch of the salt. Set the rest of the cucumber and mint aside for the top.

   Make this first and let it sit while everything else cooks. The garlic mellows and the flavors meld.

2. Boil the noodles

   Bring the water to a boil with half the remaining salt. Add the noodles and cook for the time on the package, usually 4–6 minutes, until tender with a slight bite. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and shake off as much water as you can.

   Rinsing in cold water washes off loose starch so the noodles don't clump into one block.

3. Sear and rest the steak

   Pat the steak dry and season both sides with the pepper and the rest of the salt. Heat the oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat and sear the steak for 3–4 minutes a side, until deeply browned and 63°C (145°F) in the middle for medium. Rest it on the board for 5 minutes, then slice it thinly against the grain.

   Resting matters. If you slice right away, the juices run onto the board instead of staying in the beef.

4. Toss the noodles and top with steak

   Toss the noodles with the minty yogurt sauce until coated. Pile them into a bowl, lay the steak slices on top and finish with the rest of the cucumber and mint.

   Pour the steak's resting juices over the bowl. They add a savory depth to the cool sauce.

Swaps

• Top sirloin steak → Chicken breast, sliced thinLeaner and cheaper. Cook it 5–6 minutes a side, to 74°C (165°F).
• Rice noodles → Soba noodlesNuttier and chewier. Cook per the package; they're not gluten-free unless labeled 100% buckwheat.