Pinoy Beef Tapa
A delicious Filipino beef tapa recipe that brings the flavors of home to your U.S. kitchen. Simple ingredients and quick instructions make this dish a must-try.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 270kcal
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound thinly sliced beef sirloin or flank Any cut of beef works if sliced thin.
- 1/4 cup soy sauce Regular soy sauce like Kikkoman works well.
- 1 tablespoon vinegar White or apple cider vinegar can be used.
- 2 tablespoons sugar Brown sugar is preferred, but white is fine.
- 4 cloves garlic Smashed garlic adds flavor.
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- to taste none calamansi or lemon juice Calamansi is authentic; lemon is a fine substitute.
- to taste none salt Use sparingly as soy sauce is already salty.
Instructions
Marinating Beef
- Slice the beef super thin and place it in a mixing bowl or a zip-top bag.
- Add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, black pepper, and calamansi or lemon juice. Mix well until the beef is fully coated.
- Marinate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight. If short on time, 30 minutes works too.
Cooking Beef
- Heat a pan over medium-high heat with a splash of oil.
- Lay marinated beef slices flat in the pan without crowding.
- Sear until dark and sticky on one side, then flip and cook the other side until done.
- Remove from the pan, plate, and resist the urge to eat the first piece immediately.
Notes
Keep beef slices thin to avoid overcooking and make sure to take advantage of the marinade for juiciness. Variations with other citrus can also work if calamansi isn't available.