Cold Noodles With Steak and Tomatoes

Name: Cold Noodles With Steak and Tomatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 quarts water; 8 ounces thin, flat rice noodles (such as pad Thai-style); 8 ounces skirt steak, sliced against the grain about ¼-inch thick; ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon fish sauce, divided; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 1 garlic clove, finely grated; Black pepper; ¼ cup lime juice (from 1 to 2 limes); 1 tablespoon honey; 4 medium cocktail or small plum tomatoes (about 8 ounces), cut into wedges; ¼ medium red or white onion, thinly sliced; Small handful cilantro leaves, chopped

By Cybelle Tondu

Published July 29, 2026

Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Anna Billingskog.

Media 1 of 1

Ready In: 20 min
Rating: (0)
Comments: Read comments

A puckery and savory dressing of fish sauce, lime and marinated tomatoes make this steak and noodle salad a refreshing yet hearty meal for sweltering days. Tender slices of stir-fried skirt steak remain delicious even at room temperature, thanks to their even fat marbling and flavorful marinade. Minimize prep time over a steamy stove by slicing the meat thinly so that it cooks fast. A shower of onion and cilantro adds freshness and texture, but almost any herbs you can find will be right at home atop this dish.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

2 quarts water
8 ounces thin, flat rice noodles (such as pad Thai-style)
8 ounces skirt steak, sliced against the grain about ¼-inch thick
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon fish sauce, divided
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 garlic clove, finely grated
Black pepper
¼ cup lime juice (from 1 to 2 limes)
1 tablespoon honey
4 medium cocktail or small plum tomatoes (about 8 ounces), cut into wedges
¼ medium red or white onion, thinly sliced
Small handful cilantro leaves, chopped

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the noodles, turn off the heat and stir until the noodles are fully submerged. Let sit until tender, about 15 minutes (or follow package instructions), stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking together. Transfer noodles to a colander, rinse with cold water and drain well.
Step 2
In a small bowl, season steak with 1 tablespoon fish sauce, the sesame oil, garlic and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Set aside for a few minutes (or up to 1 hour).
Step 3
Stir lime juice, remaining ¼ cup fish sauce and honey together in a large bowl until dissolved. Add the tomatoes and toss to coat. Add drained noodles to the bowl and toss gently to combine.
Step 4
Heat a medium skillet over high heat, then add the steak and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
Step 5
To serve, transfer the noodles and tomatoes to a serving platter, top with steak and scatter with onion and cilantro.