How I love a barbecue – or a braai as its known from where I come from. As soon as there’s a glimmer of summer in the sky I’m ready to wipe everything down and get out there, hoping for sunny days and plenty of alfresco eating.

And I like to be inventive on my barbecue. Although I do love a burger and a sausage it can be so much more complex than that. I love the marinating, the skewering, the parcelling and coming up with salads and veg to accompany the feast. Today I’ve created a beautifully fragrant Vietnamese-style beef salad using the beautiful rump steak I received as part of the Large BBQ Meat Bundle from the people at 44 Foods. You can find the recipe at the end of this post in a handy printable form.

Launched in January 2021, 44 Foods is a collective of farmers and food producers who are passionate about ethically produced, fairly priced, sustainable food. Together, they supply fruit and veg, meat and dairy and larder essentials direct from their farms to your door. And they do a fabulous selection of what they call bundles including such delights as a recipe bundle, British fish bundle or even a luxury breakfast bundle.

My Large BBQ Meat Bundle was a serious bundle of delicious meat. Marinated ribs, chicken wings and skewers, beautifully plump sausages, minted lamb kebabs and tasty Aberdeen Angus steak burgers. All of the highest quality and totally delicious. And so nice to have the work done for you.

Oh and there were also two 21-day matured Scotch rump steaks in the box. Which is what I used to make my Vietnamese Beef Salad. I honestly can’t remember eating rump steak that was so tender and so flavoursome (generally I’m more of rib-eye or sirloin kind of girl). But having sampled these lovely rumps I’ll certainly be eating more of them in my future.

Vietnamese Beef Salad Recipe

Start by marinating the steak in a mix of ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves and lime juice to add some of the zesty flavours of South East Asia.

Okay, today I cheated as let’s be honest it’s really not warm enough to be barbecuing outside just yet. I’m lucky enough to have an indoor grill which gives pretty much the same effect so I did my grilling there. Grill the steak for about four minutes on each side for a medium rare to rare result. Obviously you can cook the steak entirely to your own liking.

Chop all the ingredients of the salad and place in a bowl. Slice the steak and lay on top, sprinkle with crispy onions and serve. Today’s dressing is one I learnt to make on a trip to Vietnam using a secret ingredient. Watch this space and all will be revealed. Until then a classic Asian dressing using lime juice, fish sauce, chilli and sugar also works well.

The burgers from 44 Foods are particularly delectable.

Here’s a snapshot of all the meat included in the bundle. A truly great selection.

The Facts

The Large BBQ Meat Bundle consists of an incredible range of ready-to-barbecue delights for £42. All delivered direct to your door. Here’s what you’ll get.

BBQ chicken kebabs (4)

Traditional thick pork sausages (6)

Aberdeen Angus steak burgers (4)

Minted lamb kebabs (4)

21 day matured Scotch rump steak (232g x 2)

BBQ pork ribs 400g (2)

Ultimate Scotch beef burgers (2)

BBQ marinated chicken wings (1kg)

Find out about the wide range of products available from 44 Foods and the bundles on offer here.

And here’s the recipe as promised.