Hot-and-Sour Beef and Rice Noodle Salad

From Sunset. Better than Thai food from a restaurant...

Ingredients

1 beef flank steak (about 1 lb.)
8 ounces dried thin rice noodles
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla) or soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar (2 tablespoons if using soy sauce)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 to 4 teaspoons minced fresh serrano chiles
2 quarts salad greens (5 oz.), rinsed and crisped
1 cup cherry tomatoes (8 oz.), rinsed, stemmed, and halved
1/2 cup thinly slivered red onion, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, rinsed
Preparation
1. Rinse steak and pat dry. Lay on a grill 4 to 6 inches above a solid bed of hot coals or high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 2 to 3 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook steak, turning once, until browned on the outside but still pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), 9 to 12 minutes total. Transfer to a board and let rest at least 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 1/2 to 3 quarts water to a boil; add noodles and stir occasionally until barely tender to bite, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water until cool, and drain again thoroughly.

3. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup (1/4 cup if substituting soy sauce for fish sauce) water, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and garlic. Add chiles to taste.

4. Thinly slice meat across the grain at a 45° angle, then cut the slices into 3- to 4-inch lengths. On each of four dinner plates, layer equal portions of salad greens, noodles, tomatoes, onion, mint, and cilantro.

5. Top salads with slices of beef. Spoon half the dressing over salads; serve remaining to add to taste.