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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Beef bistek tagalog with rice

Beef bistek tagalog is a Filipino dish of thin beef slices marinated in lemon juice and soy sauce, pan fried with onions and served over rice. For 4 people, it takes 35 minutes, it's very easy to make, and it costs about €3.50 per serving. The key to success is a short marinade, no more than 30 minutes, so the lemon tenderizes the beef without toughening it.

Tonight, from the Philippines, beef bistek tagalog, thin slices of beef marinated in lemon and soy sauce, pan fried with onions.

Beef bistek tagalog with rice
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€3.50
Calories per person
530 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Beef bistek tagalog balances three simple flavors, the tang of lemon, the saltiness of soy sauce, and the mild sweetness of caramelized onions. The beef, sliced thin, cooks in just a few minutes over high heat and stays tender if you cut it against the grain. The marinade, reduced at the end into a glossy sauce, is what ties everything together and soaks nicely into the rice.

This dish is a great pick for a weeknight dinner, quick to make and easy to pull off without much fuss. Kids tend to like it because the flavor stays mild, somewhere between lemony and slightly sweet, far from anything spicy. It also works well for a casual Sunday dinner with guests, a nice change from the usual beef dishes without taking hours to cook.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Rumsteck or flank steak 600 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 3
  • Lemons 2
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Pantry

  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • White riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Black pepperoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Slice the beef into thin strips and marinate it with the soy sauce, lemon juice, crushed garlic and pepper. 25 min

    Cut against the grain, the meat will be much more tender.

  2. Cut the onions into thick rings and separate them.

    Keep them thick, they should stay a bit crunchy.

  3. Cook the rice in salted water. 12 min

    Rinse it before cooking, it will be less sticky.

  4. Brown the onion rings in a pan with a tablespoon of oil, then set aside. 5 min

    Let them color without stirring, that's what brings out their sweetness.

  5. Sear the drained beef over high heat, pour in the marinade, let it reduce a few minutes with the sugar, then top with the onions. 8 min

    Reduce the marinade into a glossy sauce, it will coat the rice nicely.

Our tips to get it right

  • Slice the beef thin and evenly so it cooks quickly and at the same rate throughout.
  • Drain the beef well before searing it, otherwise it releases too much liquid and won't brown properly.
  • Keep the pan very hot while cooking the beef, that's what sears it instead of steaming it.

The variations

  • Swap the rumsteck for thinly sliced chicken breast for a milder version, cutting the cooking time slightly.
  • For a vegetarian version, use sliced portobello mushrooms or firm tofu marinated the same way.
  • To save time, make the marinade the night before, so all you need to do the next day is cook it when you get home.

What to serve it with

  • White rice, already part of the recipe
  • Cucumber and tomato salad
  • Iced tea or lemon water

Storage

Beef bistek tagalog keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container, ideally with the beef and rice stored separately. It freezes well, aside from the fresh rice, for up to 2 months. Reheat the beef in a skillet or microwave, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can you use a different citrus instead of lemon?

Yes, lime or calamansi, the citrus traditionally used in the Philippines, both work well. Keep the same amount of juice to preserve the marinade's acidity.

Can the marinade be made ahead of time?

You can mix the marinade ahead, but only add the beef about 30 minutes before cooking. Longer contact with the lemon would toughen the meat instead of tenderizing it.

What cut of beef works if I don't have rumsteck?

Flank steak works just as well, as called for in the recipe. Skirt steak or hanger steak are good options too, as long as you slice against the grain.

Is this dish okay for kids who don't like tangy food?

Yes, cooking mellows out the lemon's acidity a lot, and the sugar added at the end balances the sauce. The final taste is mild, closer to a sweet and savory sauce than a sharp citrus dish.

How long does it take to make a beef bistek tagalog, lemon and soy marinated beef with onions, served with rice?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a beef bistek tagalog, lemon and soy marinated beef with onions, served with rice?

About 530 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a beef bistek tagalog, lemon and soy marinated beef with onions, served with rice cost?

About €3.50 per serving, or €14.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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