Beef

Until fairly recently, beef was rarely eaten in Thailand as cattle were considered beasts of burden and, as such, were highly valued for their work. Today, beef is no longer regarded as such a luxury but it still tends to be expensive, so is used quite sparingly. Beef is generally cut into bitesize pieces. When cutting beef for stir-frying it is first sliced lengthwise along the grain, then crosswise across the grain into paper thin slices. Beef is also grilled (broiled) and served as satay, minced (ground) and stir-fried or made into meatballs, and cut into chunks and cooked slowly in braises or stews.