Lemongrass Steak Lettuce Cup Board

A fresh, high‑impact platter for effortless hosting

Hosting doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special. This Lemongrass Steak Lettuce Cup Board is one of those dishes that looks impressive, eats beautifully, and keeps the actual work shockingly minimal. It’s built for movement — people grazing, assembling, adding herbs, passing the platter around — which is exactly the energy I want when I’m hosting.

If you’re building out your menu from the Easy Hosting series, this board fits right in. It’s fast, flexible, and designed to scale without stress. You can prep everything ahead, grill the steak right before guests arrive, and set it all out on one big board for a self‑serve moment that feels generous and modern.

Why this Lemongrass Steak Lettuce Cup Board Works

• High flavor, low effort. The lemongrass marinade does all the heavy lifting
• Interactive by design. Guests build their own lettuce cups — no plating required.
• Fresh, bright, and balanced. Herbs, pickles, crunch, and juicy steak keep every bite lively.
• Visually stunning. It’s the kind of platter that makes the table feel instantly abundant.

How to Serve at Your Next Gathering

Arrange everything on a large board: chilled lettuce cups, sliced lemongrass steak, cucumbers, herbs, pickled shallots, peanuts, crispy shallots, and a simple lime‑fish sauce dressing. Keep the colors grouped for a clean, editorial look. Let guests assemble their own cups — it’s casual, fun, and keeps you out of the kitchen.

Pair it with

This board plays well with other Easy Hosting dishes: a vermicelli bowl bar, summer roll board, or a simple chilled noodle salad. It’s also perfect alongside a light cocktail or sparkling water with lime.

Get the recipe

The full recipe — including marinade, dressing, and board assembly — is below in the recipe card. It’s fast, bright, and endlessly repeatable.

Lemongrass Steak Lettuce Cup Board

A bold, fresh, high‑impact and healthy shareable platter featuring lemongrass‑marinated steak, crisp lettuce cups, herbs, and bright toppings. Guests build their own, making it perfect for lively hosting for spring gatherings or summer picnics.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine Vietnamese

Servings 8

Equipment

• Grill or cast‑iron skillet
• Mixing bowl
• Large platter or board
• Small bowl for dressing

Ingredients

  

Soy Lemongrass Steak

• 1.75 –2 lb flank steak or skirt steak
• 3 tbsp lemongrass finely minced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp neutral oil
• 1 tsp black pepper

Lettuce + Vegetables

• 2 heads butter lettuce leaves separated
• 4 Persian cucumbers cut into batons
• 1 cup pickled shallots
• 1 cup shredded carrots optional

Herbs + Crunch

• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 bunch mint
• 1 bunch Thai basil
• ½ cup crispy shallots
• ½ cup roasted peanuts crushed

Dressing

• ½ cup lime juice
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 clove garlic grated
• 1-2 Thai chiles thinly sliced (optional)

Instructions

 

• Whisk together lemongrass, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, oil, and pepper.
• Add steak and marinate 20 minutes (or up to 4 hours).
• Heat grill or cast‑iron pan over high heat. Cook steak 3–5 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
• Rest 5–10 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
• Arrange lettuce cups, cucumbers, pickled shallots, herbs, peanuts, and crispy shallots on a large platter.
• Whisk dressing ingredients until sugar dissolves.
• Serve sliced steak with lettuce cups and toppings; guests build their own.

Notes

• Group ingredients on the platter by category (lettuce, vegetables, herbs, crunch, protein) so guests can build clean, balanced bites.
• Add sliced jalapeños or chili crisp for heat.
• Skirt steak cooks faster; flank gives more uniform slices.
• Keep lettuce chilled until serving for maximum crunch.

Keyword fresh, hosting, lemongrass steak, lettuce cups, platter, shareable, Vietnamese

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