This dish requires some multitasking, but the benefits of creating something this delicious in only 30 minutes are well worth the hustle. If you're entertaining friends, take a more leisurely approach and make the dressing, cook the noodles, and clean the herbs ahead; then at serving time, just cook the steak and combine the ingredients.
Recipe: Vietnamese Steak Noodle Salad
Pair with: Merlot. Salad and red wine don’t usually share the table, but Merlot loves fresh herbs and has a gentle texture that works really well with noodles—and, of course, steak. Our bottle pick has enough tangy acidity to stand up to a lime-based dressing. Recommended bottle: Double R Ranch 2008 Merlot (Napa Valley).