Description
Filipino beef tapa promises a delightful journey through classic island flavors, combining tender marinated meat with perfect texture and balance. Hearty portions deliver rich, umami-packed bites that transport you straight to Manila’s bustling street kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 500 grams (17.6 ounces) beef sirloin, thinly sliced
Seasonings:
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Cooking:
- Cooking oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and vinegar in a mixing container, creating a robust marinade with balanced flavors.
- Thoroughly coat beef slices in the marinade, ensuring each piece is completely saturated with the seasoning mixture.
- Refrigerate the marinated beef for 8-12 hours, allowing the ingredients to deeply penetrate and tenderize the meat.
- Remove beef from refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking.
- Warm a skillet over medium-high heat with a thin layer of cooking oil, preparing for even browning.
- Carefully place marinated beef slices into the hot skillet, avoiding overcrowding to ensure proper caramelization.
- Cook beef for 3-4 minutes on each side, developing a rich golden-brown exterior while maintaining a juicy interior.
- Transfer cooked beef to a serving plate, allowing excess oil to drain on paper towels.
- Accompany the beef tapa with steamed garlic rice and sunny-side-up eggs, creating a traditional Filipino breakfast presentation.
- Garnish with chopped green onions or serve with a complementary vinegar dipping sauce for added flavor complexity.
Notes
- Tenderize the beef by choosing a cut like sirloin or flank steak, which absorbs marinade easily and becomes wonderfully soft when cooked.
- Consider reducing sugar if watching calories or prefer less sweetness, as the soy sauce already provides depth of flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, swap traditional soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos, maintaining the authentic umami profile.
- Slice beef against the grain to ensure maximum tenderness and prevent tough, chewy texture during cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg