Dominican Bistec Encebollado
Loving all the cooking I have been able to do for the blog during this “stay at home” order. it has been one of the upsides aside from spending more time with my family. I have been able to make my favorite meals for you and with more time freed up for the next few months, well, lots more will be coming!
This Bistec Encebollado is our Latin version of Steak and Onions. Pretty much every latin country has its own version and to be honest, you cannot go wrong with any of our varied recipes.
In this video and recipe, I went with bottom round steak because we had a limitation at our supermarket. It was cut a bit thicker than I would have liked but I think when done right, this recipe can handle a thicker cut of beef.
So here we go, let’s make it!
Perfect sides:
Dominican Rice and Beans
Dominican Moro Rice
Bean Vegetable Rice
Black Bean Cilantro Rice
Bistec Encebollado (Steak and Onions)
Equipment
- meat tenderizer
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef (bottom round, cubed steak) pounded and tenerized on both sides
- 1 cup red wine vinegar for washing, see directions
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbs white vinegar
- 3 tbs soy sauce
- 2 tbs Goya Adobo
- 1 tsp ground oregano
- 1/4 cup red wine or red cooking wine
- 3 tbs Mazola corn oil
- 1 large onion cut into slices
- 2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Cut the beef into 5×5 size if they are bigger than that.
- Place saran wrap over one piece of beef and tenderize with a tenderizer well on both sides. I pound mine until I see the beef has become visibly thinner. Do this one piece at a time and place in a large bowl as you go.
- Rinse the beef with water and drain.
- Pour in the red wine vinegar and massage into the beef for about 30 seconds.
- Rinse again with water and drain. The beef with feel a bit slippery after this.
- Add garlic, salt, pepper, white vinegar, soy sauce, adobo and oregano. Mix well into the beef and store for at least 4 hours but overnight is preferred.
- If you are like me and like to get things done and out the way you can now slice the onions and store for the next day or do so right before you start to cook your steak.
- Once ready to cook, heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add beef and cover. (RESERVE the juices from the seasoning and add 1/2 cup water to it.)
- Now you are going to give the beef some color, turning once before lowering the heat to simmer.
- After about 5 minutes, add the red wine or red cooking wine. Cover.
- This beef will cook for about 1 hour and you'll be checking on it periodically making sure it doesn't dry out and adding bits of that reserved liquid and turning the pieces over a couple of times. Add more water to the liquid if needed.
- Once the beef is tender and still has liquid add the onions over the beef and cover. You are now going to allow the onions to sweat over the beef and subsequently will begin to caramelize.
- Once onions are becoming tender, stir around in the skillet and keep uncovered to make sure are not over cooking the onions. You'll see them becoming caramelized and the beef sitting in more oil than water and getting some color. This is when you are done and the beef is ready to enjoy.
