I missed this dish! Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak) reminds me of my high school days. So tender, melt in your mouth beef dish, with salty and sour sauce perfectly married together, topped with crunchy fresh onion ring slices.
Wow! Just saying it makes me hungry and my mouth watery. I just had this dish a couple of hours ago and now, I want to eat some more. Haha!
Last weekend, when I was at my sister’s place, they had some leftover Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak). I tried a few bites and it reminded me of my high school days. I love this dish. I used to order it a lot from our school canteen for lunch with my friends.
Still reminiscing my great high school memories, I found myself grabbing beef from the grocery store. Slicing it thinly to make my own Bistek Tagalog at home.
I haven’t cooked Bistek Tagalog in a while. So I asked my mom how to make Bistek Tagalog to refresh my memory. The main key ingredients that she taught me are soy sauce, citrus (kalamansi or lemon juice) and of course, beef.
Marinating the beef
Marinating is a very important step in this recipe. Marinating allows the meat to soften and it’s an effective way to add extra moisture to the meat, making it more tender.
Slice the beef thinly and marinate for a few hours, or at least 30 minutes. Because of my busy schedule (or just by being me, so impatient haha), 30 minutes is reasonable enough.
For the marinade, combine the soy sauce and the citrus. The original recipe calls for kalamansi or lemon juice, though I believe lime will do just fine. You can add some flavoring such as fresh onion, garlic and ground pepper.
Fresh ingredients are always best but with this recipe, I used onion powder and garlic powder because it’s convenient. I always have them in my pantry. It’s a crime running out of them, at least in my kitchen. 😉
If you decide to use fresh onion and garlic, cut them into small pieces or mince them before adding to the marinade.
Salty and sour sauce
One thing that makes this dish so unique is the sauce. We, Filipinos, love sauce, so why not have it with beef steak? It may sound weird but trust me, beef steak is so good with sauce.
Simmer the beef with the salty and sour marinade for a few minutes allowing the flavors to marry together that gives its best unique flavor.
Everyone has their own different taste and take on food. You can adjust the flavor of the sauce by putting a little bit more of soy sauce or salt to make it more salty, or more citrus if you like a more sour flavor. If it gets too salty, add water to balance it out. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes and it’s good to go.
It may sound odd but I used to add a few dashes of sugar as an equalizer. It helps to get the sour taste and gives a little hint of sweetness. Feel free to give it a try on this recipe!
Freezer Friendly
As a busy mom, this is my favorite part. I can make a few batches of the marinated beef ahead of time and cook later.
You can double the recipe below and then divide into 4 quart size Ziploc freezer bags. It is advisable to use Ziploc freezer bags because they are intended to use in the freezer, the plastic is thicker. Don’t forget to label the bags with the name of your dish and the date when you made it.
Frozen marinated meat will last for some time, but to be safe, cook and consume it within 6 months.
To cook the frozen marinated beef steak, take one ziplock bag, allow to thaw and then cook continuing the instruction. One quart-size ziploc bag is good for 2 to 3 people.
Finish the dish by adding fresh onion ring slices at the top. The steam will cook the onion slightly, leaving it crunchy.
What is your favorite marinated beef recipe? Have you tried Bistek Tagalog? Will you make Bistek Tagalog at home? Let us know in the comment section below.
Here’s how to make Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak).
<3 L
Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak)
Bistek Tagalog (Filipino Beef Steak) is a tender, melt in your mouth, beef dish with salty and sour sauce perfectly married together.
Ingredients:
Directions:
In a bowl, combine beef, lemon juice, soy sauce, onions powder, garlic powder, and ground pepper. Marinate for at least half an hour or overnight. Cover and put it inside the refrigerator if you plan to marinate for a few hours or overnight.
In a pan over high heat, add the beef with the marinade and add water. Bring to boil, cover and lower the heat. Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the meat is fork-tender.
Add Italian seasoning bread crumbs. This helps thicken the sauce and add flavors.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Taste the dish before adding more salt and pepper. Turn off the heat.
Garnish with onion rings and cover to allow onions to cook slightly in the steam. Serve over warm rice.
Ingredients
Directions
In a bowl, combine beef, lemon juice, soy sauce, onions powder, garlic powder, and ground pepper. Marinate for at least half an hour or overnight. Cover and put it inside the refrigerator if you plan to marinate for a few hours or overnight.
In a pan over high heat, add the beef with the marinade and add water. Bring to boil, cover and lower the heat. Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the meat is fork-tender.
Add Italian seasoning bread crumbs. This helps thicken the sauce and add flavors.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Taste the dish before adding more salt and pepper. Turn off the heat.
Garnish with onion rings and cover to allow onions to cook slightly in the steam. Serve over warm rice.
Hi! My name is Lerrie. Wife. Mom. Professional web and mobile developer by day. An aspiring cook and baker by night. Blogger. 
So much yum.
This inspires me to go visit our Lola. HaHa
You made it so easy to follow along to the recipe. Thank you and I can’t wait to try and create on my own.
Great content! Keep up the good work!