Beef Tapa is a beloved Filipino dish made of thinly sliced beef marinated in a savory and slightly sweet mixture. Traditionally served as part of a “Tapsilog” meal, it pairs perfectly with garlic fried rice and fried eggs. The beef is pan-fried to achieve a slight caramelization, creating a rich and flavorful dish that’s both tender and delicious.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef sirloin or flank steak

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons calamansi juice or lemon juice

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• Cooking oil for frying

• Optional: 1/4 cup water (for a softer texture)

Directions

1. Marinate the Beef:

   • Slice the beef thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness.

   • In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, calamansi or lemon juice, minced garlic, sugar, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.

   • Add the sliced beef to the marinade, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight for best results.

2. Cook the Beef:

   • Heat cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat.

   • Remove the beef from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off (you can reserve the marinade for later use).

   • Fry the beef slices in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through.

3. Optional Step:

   • If desired, pour the reserved marinade into the pan and simmer until reduced for extra flavor.

4. Serve:

   • Serve the Beef Tapa hot with garlic fried rice, fried eggs, and a side of fresh tomatoes or pickled vegetables for a complete “Tapsilog” meal.

Nutrients (Per serving)

• Calories: 350 kcal

• Protein: 30g

• Fat: 20g

• Carbohydrates: 10g

• Sodium: 900mg

• Sugar: 5g

Key Ingredients: Beef, Marinade, and Cooking Method

The choice of beef plays a crucial role in this dish. Sirloin or flank steak are the best cuts for Beef Tapa due to their tenderness and ability to absorb flavors. Thinly slicing the beef against the grain ensures that the final dish remains tender, allowing the marinade to penetrate deeply into the meat.

The marinade is simple yet flavorful, combining soy sauce for umami, calamansi or lemon juice for acidity and brightness, minced garlic for a savory punch, sugar for a touch of sweetness, and black pepper for mild heat. This mix creates a well-balanced flavor profile that transforms the beef into a rich, mouthwatering dish. Marinating the beef for several hours, or even overnight, allows the flavors to intensify and ensures the meat is fully infused.

The frying process is key to creating the perfect Beef Tapa. The beef is pan-fried in oil, which helps caramelize the sugars in the marinade, resulting in slightly crispy, flavorful edges and a tender interior. This combination of caramelization and frying gives the Beef Tapa its signature texture and depth of flavor.

Preparing the Beef Tapa

To prepare Beef Tapa, start by slicing the beef thinly against the grain. This ensures that the beef is tender and easy to eat. The marinade comes together quickly with soy sauce, calamansi or lemon juice, minced garlic, sugar, and black pepper. Once the beef is added to the marinade, make sure each slice is well-coated. For the best flavor, it’s recommended to marinate the beef for at least 4 hours, but overnight is ideal to allow the flavors to fully develop.

After marinating, heat cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Removing the beef from the marinade and allowing any excess liquid to drip off before frying is important, as it prevents splattering and ensures the beef crisps up nicely. Fry the beef in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan, so each piece has enough space to brown and cook evenly. Depending on the thickness of your slices, the beef should cook for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, achieving a nice caramelization and tenderness.

Optional Step: Enhance the Flavor

If you prefer an even more flavorful dish, you can reserve some of the marinade and add it to the pan after the beef is cooked. Let the marinade simmer and reduce for a few minutes to intensify the flavors and create a sauce that can be drizzled over the Beef Tapa before serving. This optional step adds an extra layer of flavor that elevates the dish.

Serving the Beef Tapa: Tapsilog

Beef Tapa is traditionally served as part of a “Tapsilog” meal, which includes garlic fried rice, a fried egg, and sometimes fresh tomatoes or pickled vegetables. The garlicky, fragrant rice pairs perfectly with the savory beef, while the fried egg adds richness and a creamy texture. Fresh tomatoes or pickled vegetables offer a refreshing contrast to balance the richness of the beef and rice.

To complete the meal, serve the Beef Tapa hot with a side of your choice of rice—garlic fried rice is ideal—and a sunny-side-up or fried egg. For an added touch, serve with a few slices of fresh tomatoes or a small portion of pickled vegetables to add a pop of freshness.

Nutritional Value

Each serving of Beef Tapa provides a balanced combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. With 350 calories per serving, it offers 30 grams of protein, making it a great source of lean protein for muscle growth and repair. The dish also contains 20 grams of fat, contributing to its rich and flavorful texture. The 10 grams of carbohydrates primarily come from the small amount of sugar in the marinade.

The sodium content is around 900mg per serving, which is something to keep in mind if you’re watching your sodium intake, as soy sauce can contribute significantly to the overall sodium content. However, the dish provides a satisfying and filling meal that delivers on flavor and nutritional value.

Conclusion

Beef Tapa is a delicious and flavorful dish that captures the essence of Filipino cuisine. The savory-sweet marinated beef, paired with crispy edges and tender bites, makes for a satisfying meal that is perfect for any time of day. When served with garlic fried rice, a fried egg, and pickled vegetables, it transforms into a traditional “Tapsilog” breakfast meal that’s sure to please anyone who loves rich, comforting flavors. Whether you’re making it for a family meal, a special occasion, or just a quick weeknight dinner, Beef Tapa is sure to be a hit.