Can your local deli counter inspire a cool Vietnamese-style meal? Definitely. Here, roast beef, already cooked to medium-rare (perfection, in our opinion), is a main player.

Active time: 10 minutes Start to finish: 10 minutes

Servings: Makes 4 servings.
subscribe to Gourmet
Ingredients
1/2 seedless cucumber
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
1 pound fresh pineapple chunks (about 4 cups)
3/4 pound deli sliced roast beef
12 long sprigs fresh mint
Preparation
Halve cucumber lengthwise, then slice diagonally 1/4 inch thick.

Stir together lime juice, water, fish sauce, sugar, red-pepper flakes, and shallot in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.

Arrange pineapple and cucumber on a platter and drizzle with some of dressing. Drape roast beef slices on top and arrange mint alongside. Serve with remaining dressing on the side.