If you love Puerto Rican recipes, this warm and hearty traditional bistec encebollado will send your taste buds on a flavor journey. In addition to the excellent flavor, its versatility is another plus point. Served with rice, this beef and onion dish makes for a lovely dinner or lunch dish.
Bistec encebollado is also a great option when cooking for a large number of people. Learn this recipe, and you will feed the crowd easily!
What Is Bistec Encebollado?
Bistec encebollado is a traditional Puerto Rican dish consisting of beef cheek steaks marinated in the local version of sofrito sauce (a mixture of aromatic spices such as onions, cilantro, garlic, red pepper, etc.)
Then, the beef and onions are stewed in the savory sauce base. The end result is a tender and flavorful meal.
It is an extremely famous comfort food in Puerto Rico. Besides Puerto Rico, this savory dish is also popular in other Latin American countries, like Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Moreover, cooking bistec encebollado is simple, but its flavor will charm countless adults. Read down and learn how to bring the exotic Latin American feel to your kitchen.
Which Tools Do You Need to Cook Bistec Encebollado?
While bistec encebollado is relatively simple to cook, having an efficient set of tools will make your task easier, such as:
What Are Ingredients in Bistec Encebollado?
By now, you probably know that beef and onions are the souls of any bistec encebollado recipe. But in order to awaken the full extent of its deliciousness, you’ll need more than that. Here is the full list of what you should prepare.
How To Make Bistec Encebollado
It’s time to cook bistec encebollado at home with 4 straightforward steps.
Step 1: Prepare And Marinate The Beef
Thinly slice your beef with a sharp knife and add to a bowl. Then, add garlic powder, onion powder, garlic, oregano, coriander, and white vinegar to the bowl. Stir everything together and cover the bowl with cling wrap.
Place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Make sure that you leave the meat to soak in the marinade long enough for it to really infuse the flavors. If possible, you can let the meat marinate for several hours.
Step 2: Sear The Beef
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). While waiting for it to heat up, place a skillet on medium to high heat on a stovetop and add olive oil. Sear your beef slices for 2 – 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Step 3: Cook The Bistec Encebollado
Add onions, vegetable broth, and seasoning to the beef before covering the skillet. Transfer it to the preheated oven and cook for 30 – 40 minutes.
Get the skillet out and remove the lid to check. If the dish is a little watery, place it back in the oven without the lid for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Step 4: Serve Your Bistec Encebollado
Once your delight is cooked to your liking, sprinkle chopped parsley leaves and serve hot with your favorite side of vegetables or rice. Enjoy!
What To Serve With My Bistec Encebollado?
Bistec encebollado is a warm and flavor-packed dish that you can enjoy with anything. However, the following options are my favorite ways to serve this wonderful Puerto Rican dish.
Storing Bistec Encebollado
Besides helping you marinate the beef, the fridge is an excellent way of storing your bistec encebollado. When it has completely cooled down, you can put your food in an airtight container and stack it somewhere in the fridge. Your food will stay in good condition for 3 – 4 days.
Even better, you can store it in the freezer (with a suitable bag or container) for about 3 months. Remember to reheat your beef carefully before eating it as well as refraining from freezing leftover beef for a second time.
Try Bistec Encebollado and Feel Puerto Rican Cuisine!
Are you sick and tired of the mundane beef stew you’re so familiar with? Are you after a savory beef and onion dish with a lot of flavors that will stimulate all of your senses? If your answer is yes, this bistec encebollado recipe is your dream come true.
There is no need for sophisticated kitchen utensils and pans, making this recipe a breeze to cook and clean up. I’ve made sure that the flavor range keeps the sofrito sauce and bistec to its traditional Puerto Rican roots, creating a delicious dish for you to try.
Follow my recipe and tell me about your result in the comment section. If you have any new ideas to contribute, please don’t hesitate to do so. And feel free to share this post with everyone around you to spread the popularity of Puerto Rican foods. Many thanks!
Bistec Encebollado Recipe
Equipment
- Non-stick frying pan
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Bowl
- Cling wrap
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef flank steak
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large onions, sliced into rings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves, diced
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 – 3 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- On a chopping board, thinly slice your beef using a sharp knife.
- In a bowl, mix the beef with marinating ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, coriander, and white vinegar.Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes at least, covered.Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C).
- Place a large ovenproof skillet pan with a lid on medium to high heat. Add olive oil and beef. Sear the beef slices for 2 – 4 minutes or until browned.Once your beef is browned, add vegetable broth, onions, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Then place the lid on the skillet and transfer it to the preheated oven.
- Cook in the oven for approximately 30 – 40 minutes before checking the consistency of the sauce.
- If it’s too watery, cook without a lid for an extra 5 – 10 minutes.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of parsley and your chosen side dish! Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can marinate the meat for up to 4 – 5 hours to increase the flavor of the dish.
Nutrition
Paige Gilmore
Content Writer
Expertise
Home Cooking, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Data Analysis, Business Owner, Strategy & Marketing Director
Education
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
The Culinary Collective, New Zealand
Paige Gilmore is a versatile content creator from Auckland, with a focus on culinary arts and a distinctive foundation in science and analytics. Her varied skills enrich her cooking, enabling her to combine precise techniques with imaginative style in the kitchen.