Bistek Tagalog — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Tender slices of beef sirloin braised in a tangy soy-calamansi sauce and topped with caramelized onion rings — a beloved Filipino comfort dish that balances salty, sour, and sweet.

Ingredients

500g beef sirloin, sliced thinly against the grain
4 tbsp soy sauce
4 tbsp calamansi juice
3 large onions, sliced into rings
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Steamed rice for serving

Instructions

1 Marinate beef slices in soy sauce and calamansi juice for at least 30 minutes.
2 Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Sear beef slices in batches for 1 minute per side. Set aside.
3 In the same pan, caramelize onion rings until golden and slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
4 Remove onions, pour marinade into the pan, add sugar, and bring to a simmer.
5 Return beef to the sauce, cook 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
6 Top with caramelized onions and serve immediately over steamed rice.

Did You Know?

Bistek Tagalog is the Filipino adaptation of the Spanish "bistec," transformed with local calamansi citrus instead of lemon and soy sauce instead of wine.