Air Fryer Crispy Rice Steak Salad

For one of our weekly team lunches we made a version of this is an incredible salad recipe inspired by Pinch of Yum!  We added a marinated steak to our salad for extra protein and changed up the dressing a bit from the original, but it was delicious.  Thank you for the inspiration – we are always looking for new ways to use our trusty air fryer and this is definitely a recipe that utilizes the power of this kitchen tool.
We hope you give this recipe a go and let us know how it turns out or if you made any changes to the recipe to make it even better.

 

Crispy Rice Steak Salad with a side of two dumplings
This Crispy Rice Steak Salad was a flavor packed healthy meal for our whole team at Homemade. We added a mini side of dumplings because… why not?

Ingredients:

For the Crispy Rice:

  • 1 cup Jasmine rice *
  • 1 and 3/4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
  • Cooking spray or oil (for air frying)

For the Marinated Steak:

  • 1 lb. steak (such as flank or sirloin)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 inch piece ginger, grated

For the Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Salad Components:

  • Mixed salad greens (such as romaine, arugula, or baby spinach)
  • Fresh herbs (such as cilantro, mint, or basil), roughly chopped
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Rice:

  •   Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
  •   Cook rice with 1 and 3/4 cups of water according to package instructions or in a rice cooker.
  •   Once cooked, let the rice cool slightly and then mix with red curry paste.
  •   Place the seasoned rice in an air fryer basket. Spray lightly with cooking spray or drizzle with a little oil.
  •   Air fry at 400°F for about 12 minutes or until crispy and golden. Shake the basket halfway through cooking for even crisping.

2. Marinate the Steak:

  •   Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a bowl.
  •   Add the steak, ensuring it’s well-coated with the marinade. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.

3. Cook the Steak:

  •   Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat.
  •   Remove the steak from the marinade and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.
  •   Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain into thin strips.

4. Prepare the Dressing:

  •   In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, fish sauce, minced garlic, and grated ginger until well combined.

5. Assemble the Salad:

  •   In a large bowl, toss the mixed greens, fresh herbs and cucumber
  •   Add the sliced steak on top of the greens
  •   Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine everything.
  •   Sprinkle the salad all over the crispy rice
* You can use previously cooked rice, but we cooked ours in a rice cooker right before we made it and it turned out great!