Bistek Tagalog Recipe

Bistek Tagalog is a simple but deeply satisfying beef dish made with soy sauce, calamansi, and plenty of onions. Its flavor is salty, citrusy, and savory, and it is best served with warm rice that can soak up the sauce. The dish is easy enough for regular meals but familiar enough to feel special. Adding Bistek Tagalog to a Filipino Food Month collection highlights how Filipino cooking can be both straightforward and packed with flavor.

This bistek tagalog recipe is written for a Filipino Food Month series that runs through April, with one dish featured each day. It is meant to be approachable for home cooks while still honoring the familiar flavors that make Filipino food so loved.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced


• 1/4 cup soy sauce


• 1/4 cup calamansi juice or lemon juice


• 1 onion, sliced into rings


• 3 cloves garlic, minced


• 2 tbsp cooking oil


• 1/2 cup water


• Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Marinate the beef in soy sauce and calamansi juice for at least 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion rings until lightly softened. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same pan, sauté garlic until fragrant.
4. Add the beef and cook until browned.
5. Pour in the marinade and water, then simmer until the beef is tender.
6. Season with black pepper and return the onions to the pan.
7. Cook for 1 to 2 more minutes and serve hot.

Cooking Tips


• Thinly sliced beef cooks faster and stays tender.


• Do not overcook the onions if you want them to keep a slight bite.