Bistec Encebollado (Mexican-Style Steak and Onions) is one of those easy and delicious go-to recipes that gets dinner on the table in no time flat.
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My mom was the queen of multitasking. She worked from the minute she got up to the minute she went to bed.
How did she do it all? I have NO IDEA!
Each country in Latin America seems to have their own version of this dish. This is my mom’s Mexican version.
Table of Contents
Marinating the Beef:
- Marinate the beef with ground cumin, Jugo Maggi, lime juice, and black pepper.
- Place in the fridge while slicing the onions.
Similar to these marinated steak bites, the beef is marinated in simple ingredients to let the flavor of the steak shine.
Look for Jugo Maggi next to worcestershire sauce or soy sauce. Sometimes found in the Latin section of the grocery store. Or buy it online.
Jugo Maggi Substitute
- Equal parts dark soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
- It can also be replaced with Thai sweet soy sauce or mushroom soy sauce.
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Then add the beef.
- Cook until it is no longer pink. About 4 minutes.
Get the skillet really hot. Once the beef is cooked, remove it from the pan.
Cooking times vary depending on how thick the steak is. The thinner the steak, the less amount of time it needs to cook.
Pro tip:
Some of the juices will come out of the meat. Place the meat in a shallow dish to catch some of those juices and later return to the skillet to develop a deeper, delicious flavor.
Best Cut of Beef
The word Bistec means “beef steak.” You can use virtually any THIN kind of steak.
Cube steak is most commonly used. Also called “cubed steak” is tenderized top round or sirloin pounded with a mallet and has visible small indentations, hence the name.
Use round steak, sirloin steak, skirt steak, it’s all up to you and your preference.
A great way to bring down the cost is to buy the least expensive cut. Take it home and pound it thin between two pieces of wax paper with a meat mallet. Chuck roast is best for recipes like Birria Pizza and Beef Pozole.
Other Recipes using “bistec”
- Remove the beef from the skillet.
- Add a little bit of oil to the skillet and add the onions.
- It might look like a big pile, but the onions will cook down.
“Encebollado” means that there are onions in the dish. The key ingredients in this recipe are beef and lots of onions.
Next time you have onions to use up, remember this onion recipe! We are using two full onions here.
I like to slice them, not dice them. Dice can be nice. 🙂 Or cook as rings of white onions.
What Onion goes best with steak?
Yellow onion (also called Spanish Onions) are the best because they caramelize and become sweet.
Caramelized yellow onions have more flavor than white onions. However, if white onions are on sale. By all means, use white onions.
Note: Red Onions are great for salads or for pickling as in Cebolla en Escabeche.
- Add the jalapeño.
- Don’t forget to add salt since only the beef was seasoned.
If you think jalapeños are too hot, you can use roasted poblano peppers instead. They are milder but would give good flavor to this dish.
What is a chip steak?
Chip steak is also called “sizzle steaks.” You’ll see this type of steak cooked frozen without defrosting. It’s usually fried or grilled.
Many people use it for Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches.
Yes, you can use chip steak to make this recipe. As long as it is thinly sliced, you’re good to go.
- Return the beef to the large heavy skillet.
- Add fresh garlic. (Or marinade the beef with 1 tablespoon garlic powder)
- Mix and cook for 2 more minutes.
Variations:
To create a sauce, add ¼ cup of tomato sauce and and a splash of red wine vinegar and a splash of water. Cook for 2 minutes before serving.
Make it a complete meal by adding mushrooms, green beans, or broccoli. Then cook until tender. Pour in a splash of broth to cook veggies, if needed.
Storing Instructions
Place any leftovers in an airtight container. It will last for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Freeze in an airtight sealable bag, removing as much air as possible. Consume within 4 months.
Reheating
Thaw completely. Add a few splashes of Jugo Maggi and ¼ cup beef broth to a skillet. Place the meat in the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
What to Serve with It
Bistec encebollado is a traditional Latin American dish consisting of thinly sliced beef steak topped with caramelized onions.
Serve with salsa, rice, or a tasty Broccoli Casserole. Buen Provecho!
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Bistec Encebollado
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef of thinly cut 3-inch strips
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon Jugo Maggi
- Juice of 1 lime or 2 key limes
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 onions sliced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 jalapeños finely diced (use less if you don’t like it spicy)
- 1 garlic clove finely diced
- 1 tbspn Salt
Instructions
- Season the beef with cumin, Jugo Maggi, lime juice, and pepper.
- Mix well and set aside until ready to use.
- In the meantime, slice all the onions and set aside.
- Heat oil in a large skillet.
- Add beef to the skillet and cook until no longer pink.
- About 4-5 minutes.
- Remove beef from skillet.
- Add all the onions and jalapeños to the skillet.
- Season with salt.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until all the onions are translucent.
- Add the garlic clove and return the beef to the skillet.
- Mix and taste for good measure.
- Cook for 2 minutes.
- Serve with tortillas and salsa.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Equal parts dark soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
- It can also be replaced with Thai sweet soy sauce or mushroom soy sauce.
Jasmine Hewitt
this sounds amazing! gotta save this recipe for the weekend
Sherianne
2 onions does sound like a lot but they cooked down to the perfect amount. I love that I can make a large amount of this and portion it out/freeze for future meals. The roasted poblano peppers is a great tip
Dana Brillante-Peller
I love a good bistec encebollado. Picadillo is also a favorite. Adding a little sauteed veggies does bring out the flavors of the meat.
Khushboo Motihar
I would love to try this recipe with a vegetarian steak. I love the condiments that you used 🙂
Marysa
I haven’t heard of this before. Your post is very useful because I don’t cook much meat. These look like they would go so well in tacos!
Kate
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it for my family. You had mentioned that you can use any cut of beef, but I was wondering what you usually cook with for this recipe as I’m looking for a tender beef result.
Thank you!
Maggie Unzueta
I used thin sliced beef. I can’t remember what cut exactly. Lately, I have been finding thinly sliced beef top round that would go great with this recipe.
Cindy Gordon
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SOME DELICIOUS FLAVOR! LOVE IT!
Krissy Allori
This steaks was so good and so full of flavor!
Andrea Metlika
I really like all the tips about making this turn out so delicious. It sounds amazing.
Sapana
I love that you added caramelized onions to it – and thanks for the tip on using yellow onion because it has more flavor!
Kelly Anthony
I’m loving this quick but flavorful meal that I can have on the table in 30 minutes. This will be a lifesaver in the fall when school starts again.
Julie
My husband would love this! I will have to try it out for him:)
Melissa
Yum I love how this looks. It would be great with a big baked potato and asparagus. Can’t wait to try!
Maggie Unzueta
Yes and yes. I love meat and potatoes. This Bistec Encebollado gives it a new twist.
Alexandra
Been looking for a new meat recipe to try, so will defiantly be adding this to menu sometime soon.
Maggie Unzueta
Hope you do. Bistec Encebollado is delicious!
Amanda
This dish looks amazing. My family makes tacos and fajitas on Tuesdays so I will definitely add this to the mix!
Maggie Unzueta
How fun! Your family is going to love this Bistec Encebollado.
Lexington Brewer
You had me sold at lime juice and cumin — two of my favorite things to cook with! This looks delicious and I love that it’s only about 30 minutes to cook. Can’t wait to try it!
Maggie Unzueta
I love that combination too. They add good flavor to the Bistec Encebollado.
Rachel
This sounds like something my husband would absolutely LOVE! I’ll have to add it to my meal plan next week!
Maggie Unzueta
My husband asks me for Bistec Encebollado allll the time. It’s one of his favorite Mexican dishes.