Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 1/2 Asian cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 small hot red or green chile, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons mirin
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted
  • 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes or Thai chili paste
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 pound sirloin, rib-eye or New York strip steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 scallions (white and light green parts), cut into 1-inch lengths, plus additional, sliced for garnish

Method

  • Pickle the cucumbers: In a small saucepan, heat the sugar, salt, vinegar and 1/4 cup water over medium-high heat until the sugar and salt dissolve; remove from the heat.
  • Put the cucumber, chile and red onion in a medium bowl and pour the hot brine over them.
  • Let cool, then add the cilantro.
  • Chill.
  • Make the beef skewers: In a medium bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.
  • Pour half of the mixture into a serving bowl, add the lime juice and reserve as a dipping sauce.
  • Put the beef cubes in a zip-top bag and pour in the remaining marinade.
  • Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the meat.
  • Put in a bowl and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours.
  • Preheat a grill to high.
  • Drain the meat, discarding the marinade.
  • Thread the cubes onto skewers (1 to 4 per skewer), separating each cube with a piece of scallion.
  • Grill directly over the coals, turning once, until nicely charred, about 3 minutes per side.
  • Sprinkle with sliced scallions.
  • Serve warm or cold with the reserved marinade for dipping and the pickled cucumber and chiles on the side.
  • Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to keep them from burning on the grill.
  • Photograph by Antonis Achilleos