Thai Weeping Tiger Beef (with Nam Jim Jaew)
With its perfect balance of savory, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, Thai Weeping Tiger Beef is a mouthwatering steak dish that lives up to its intriguing name. I personally think this steak is named Weeping Tiger because the flavors and textures make this dish so unimaginably delicious that even tigers would weep with joy from taking just one bite, knowing that they don’t have the ability to make this themselves.

The key to Thai Weeping Tiger Beef’s rich depth of taste is the nam jim jaew dipping sauce, which beautifully complements the juicy char-grilled strips of tender steak. Served alongside warm sticky rice (or not) for soaking up every last drop of the sweet, sour, and slightly spicy nam jim jaew sauce, this Thai Weeping Tiger Beef is a unique take on steak that will leave your tastebuds weeping tears of happiness.
Nam Jim Jaew Sauce
In my opinion, the “Nam Jim Jaew” dipping sauce enhances nearly any meat dish. I use this versatile sauce for my Thai fried chicken, grilled pork, and even just as a vegetable dip. It is also typically served alongside Thai Weeping Tiger Beef. The tamarind paste lends a pleasant fruity tartness, while the fish sauce contributes an savory, umami edge. Toasted rice powder gives the dipping sauce a unique aromatic quality and textural dimension that I would not omit.
Toasted Rice Powder
Toasted rice powder is an ingredient that is widely use in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It lends a nutty flavor and texture to dishes like Laab, waterfall salad or “namtok”, Gaeng Om, and this Nam Jim Jaew dipping sauce. Toasted rice powder or “Khao Khua” is easily made by putting dried rice grains in the a pan. No need to wash the rice. Toast it in the pan using medium – low heat and stir or move the pan around every once in a while. The rice should turn golden brown or deep brown within five to ten minutes. Leave it to cool then grind it with the blender or the grinder or pestle and mortar. Store it in the jar for couple of months. See more illustration on how to make roasted rice powder by Seriouseats. You can also buy the toasted rice for your pantry here.
Steak Doneness: Internal Temperatures
Thai people normally grill this steak. Some people said that the oil from the fat dripped from the meat down the grill which resembled the tears. Hence the name of this dish “Weeping Tiger”. (cryingtigerma.com). However, in this recipe I choose to air fry my steak at 400 degrees for 10- 15 minutes to get the medium to medium – well of doneness. If you’d like your steak to be more done from an air fryer, try lowering the temperature to 360 degrees for 20 minutes. Please, also see the chart below if you choose to cook your steak in different methods. You can use the thermometer to help you determine the doneness of your steaks as followings. Please, note that this is grilled on the stove or the grill information from southeernliving.com. If you are using an air fryer, try to experiment it in terms of temperature and time that is right for you.
Rare (very red-pink): 125°F-130°F ; Estimated Cook Time: 8 minutes
Medium Rare (pink): 130°F-135°F; Estimated Cook Time: 9 minutes
Medium (light pink): 135°F-140°F; Estimated Cook Time: 10 minutes
Medium-Well: 140°F-150°F; Estimated Cook Time: 11 minutes
Well-Done: 155°F or above; Estimated Cook Time: 12 minutes or more
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Again I air fried mine at 400 °F for 15 minutes for medium to medium – well.
🥣 Printable Recipe
Thai Weeping Tiger Beef (with Nam Jim Jaew)
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 knife
Ingredients
For steak marinade
- 1 lb beef steak any cut that you'd like. I used bottom round because it's the cheapest one when I bought it. Cut into 1 -1.5 inch thick.
- 4 tablespoons oyster sauce or Hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder optinal
For Nam Jim Jaew Dipping Sauce (per serving)
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoons chili flake
- 1 teaspoons toasted rice powder
- 2 teaspoons tamarind concentrate
- 4 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon cilantro chopped or culantro or mint
- ½ shallot optional
Instructions
Marinade and Cook the Steak
- Use a fork to poke the steak all over so that the heat distribute more evenly. Marinade the steak with the oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, pepper, garlic powder, and toasted rice powder for at least 10 minutes.
- Air fry the steaks at 400 ℉ for 15 minutes. This gives me the medium to medium -well of doneness for 1 – 1.5 inch thick of steak. (If you are unsure that you'd like this level the doneness, try to start out with just once piece of steak. Then adjust the heat and time as you desire. )
Make the Nam Jim Jaew Dipping sauce and Prepare Fresh Vegetables
- While the steak is cooking, combine the ingredients from the list above for Nam Jim Jaew in a small bowl. (sugar, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, tamarind concentrate, and fish sauce)
- Top with some chopped cilantro and sliced shallots.
Assemble and Serve
- Slice the steak as thin as you can. No need to stress out and try to get it paper then. Arrange them on a plate along with Nam Jim Jaew and fresh vegetables such as fresh cucumbers and green beans. You can also serve it along with stickyrice for more energy. Enjoy!
Video
@stickyricethaikitchen Weeping Tiger Recipe Ingredients For steak marinade 1 lb beef steak any cut that you’d like. I used bottom round because it’s the cheapest one when I bought it. Cut into 1 -1.5 inch thick. 4 tablespoons oyster sauce or Hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce 2 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon black pepper ground black pepper 1 tablespoon garlic power 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder optinal For Nam Jim Jaew Dipping Sauce (per serving) 1 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoons chili flake 1 teaspoons toasted rice powder 2 teaspoons tamarind concentrate 4 teaspoons fish sauce 1 teaspoon cilantro chopped or culantro or mint ½ shallot optional Get a printable recipe from my website www.stickyricethaikitchen.com and search “weeping toget” to read more about how to get steaks to different levels of doneness. #cryingtiger#weepingtiger#steak#steaktiktok#namjimjaew#dippingsauce#bbq#bbqtiktok#simplerecipe#easyrecipe#homemadefood#cocina#tasty#thaifood#thairecipe
♬ Lavender Cappuccino – Muspace Lofi
This is one of the best beef Thai recipe I have ever try. The meat is so delicious.
Thank you so much Jack for your kind words 😀
Thanks so much Jack :D. So so good to hear that.