Are you a fan of Filipino cuisine? Do you crave the salty and peppery taste of Beef Tapa?
Look no further, because we have the recipe for Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa! This traditional dish is similar to beef jerky and is best served with garlic rice and a fried egg.
With our easy-to-follow instructions, you can make this delicious meal in the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re looking to enhance your cooking skills or start a new business venture, this recipe is sure to impress.
So, let’s get started and learn how to cook Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa!
How To Cook Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa?
To start, you will need the following ingredients:
– 1 pound of choice cut beef
– 1/4 cup soy sauce
– 2 tablespoons calamansi juice (or lemon juice)
– 2 tablespoons brown sugar
– 4 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– Cooking oil (grapeseed or vegetable)
In a non-reactive bowl, mix together the soy sauce, calamansi juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper until the sugar has dissolved. Slice the beef into thin strips and add it to the marinade. Cover and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours (up to 24 hours).
Once the beef has marinated, strain it from the marinade. Heat about one tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, cook the beef in batches. Cook each side for 2-4 minutes until well browned.
Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa is best served with garlic-flavored rice and a fried egg. You can also enjoy it with coffee to jump-start your day or as a lunch or dinner baon.
Ingredients Needed For Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa
To make Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa, you will need the following ingredients:
1. Choice cut beef – 1 pound
2. Soy sauce – 1/4 cup
3. Calamansi juice or lemon juice – 2 tablespoons
4. Brown sugar – 2 tablespoons
5. Garlic – 4 cloves, minced
6. Black pepper – 1/2 teaspoon
7. Cooking oil (grapeseed or vegetable)
The first step is to mix together the soy sauce, calamansi juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper in a non-reactive bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Then, slice the beef into thin strips and add it to the marinade. Cover and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours (up to 24 hours).
Once the beef has marinated, strain it from the marinade. Heat about one tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, cook the beef in batches. Cook each side for 2-4 minutes until well browned.
Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa is best served with garlic-flavored rice and a fried egg. You can also enjoy it with coffee to jump-start your day or as a lunch or dinner baon.
Preparing The Meat For The Recipe
To prepare the meat for Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa recipe, it is important to choose a good quality cut of beef. Sirloin is a great choice as it is tender and takes only a few minutes of pan-frying to cook. However, if you are using tougher cuts such as bottom round, it is recommended to add about 1 cup of water and simmer the tapa until tender before finishing in oil to crisp up and brown.
Once you have chosen your cut of beef, slice it thinly for faster cooking and to ensure a tender chew. It is also important to slice the meat across the grain to avoid it from getting tough from cooking for a long time. To make slicing easier, you can freeze the meat for a few minutes until slightly firm.
The marinade for this beef tapa recipe is a combination of sweet, salty, garlicky, and tangy flavors. To make the marinade, simply combine all the marinade ingredients together – soy sauce, garlic, calamansi juice or lemon juice, sugar, oyster sauce, pepper, and garlic. You can easily customize the marinade according to your taste – add more sugar for sweetness, calamansi or lemon juice for a bit of sourness, or lots of pepper if you want it to be spicy.
Before adding the raw beef to the marinade, always taste the marinade first to adjust the flavors according to your preference. Once your marinade is ready, add the sliced beef and massage it to fully coat with marinade. Keep it in the fridge for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. You can also freeze them if you don’t plan on cooking it within 24 hours.
Before cooking the marinated beef, drain it from the marinade. In a frying pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil. Add beef slices in a single layer and cook, turning on sides, for about 3 to 4 minutes or until browned. Once cooked, serve hot with garlic-flavored rice and a fried egg for a complete meal experience.
Marinating The Beef For The Perfect Flavor
Marinating the beef is an important step in creating the perfect flavor for Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa. The marinade not only adds flavor but also helps to tenderize the beef, making it more enjoyable to eat.
To create a delicious marinade, mix together soy sauce, calamansi juice (or lemon juice), brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper until the sugar has dissolved. Slice the beef into thin strips and add it to the marinade. Cover and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours (up to 24 hours) to allow the flavors to fully penetrate the meat.
Once the beef has marinated, strain it from the marinade and heat up some cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the beef in batches for 2-4 minutes on each side until well browned. The result will be juicy and flavorful strips of beef that are perfect for any meal of the day.
For an authentic Filipino experience, serve Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa with garlic-flavored rice and a fried egg. This dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and is sure to satisfy your taste buds with its savory and sweet flavors.
Cooking The Beef Tapa To Perfection
Cooking Beef Tapa to perfection requires a bit of patience and attention to detail. Here are some tips to ensure that your Beef Tapa turns out tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked:
1. Use a high-quality cut of beef: Choose a tender cut of beef like sirloin or tenderloin for best results. Avoid tougher cuts like bottom round, as they will require longer cooking time and may end up tough and chewy.
2. Slice the beef thinly: Thinly sliced beef cooks faster and more evenly, resulting in tender and juicy Beef Tapa.
3. Freeze the beef for easier slicing: Freezing the beef for about 10-15 minutes before slicing it will make it easier to cut into thin strips.
4. Do not over-marinate: Marinating the beef for too long can make it overly salty. Four hours is enough time for the meat to absorb the flavors of the marinade.
5. Cook in batches: Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the beef. Cook it in batches, so that each piece has enough space to brown properly.
6. Don’t overcook: Beef Tapa should be cooked to medium doneness or until it is no longer pink in the center. Overcooking can make the meat tough and dry.
7. Serve hot: Beef Tapa is best served hot off the pan, with garlic fried rice and a fried egg. Garnish with chopped scallions or cilantro for added flavor and freshness.
By following these simple tips, you can cook Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa to perfection and impress your family and friends with your cooking skills!
Serving Suggestions For The Ultimate Filipino Meal
Now that you have cooked the perfect Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa, it’s time to elevate your meal with some delicious serving suggestions. Here are some ideas to create the ultimate Filipino meal:
1. Tapsilog – The classic combination of Tapa, Sinangag (garlic fried rice), and Itlog (fried egg) is a staple in Filipino cuisine. Serve your beef tapa with a side of garlic fried rice and a sunny side up egg for a filling and satisfying breakfast.
2. Fresh Vegetables – Add some fresh vegetables to your plate to balance out the richness of the beef tapa. Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers work well with this dish, providing a refreshing crunch and a burst of flavor.
3. Fried Garlic Chips – For an extra crunch and flavor, sprinkle some fried garlic chips on top of your beef tapa. This will add another layer of texture and umami to your meal.
4. Spicy Vinegar Dipping Sauce – A spicy vinegar dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment to Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa. Soak fresh Thai chili in white vinegar for a few minutes to create a tangy and spicy sauce that will cut through the richness of the beef.
5. Pair with Coffee – In the Philippines, it’s common to pair Tapsilog with a cup of coffee for breakfast. The bitterness of the coffee complements the savory flavors of the beef tapa, creating a delicious and satisfying meal.
By incorporating these serving suggestions, you can create the ultimate Filipino meal with Pampanga’s Best Beef Tapa as the star. Enjoy this dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and impress your family and friends with your culinary skills!