Description
Wake up to the bold, savory-sweet taste of this classic Filipino breakfast favorite! Savory Beef Tapa combines tender marinated beef, caramelized to perfection, with hints of garlic, soy, and vinegar. Served alongside garlic fried rice and eggs, it’s the ultimate comfort meal to start your day strong and satisfied.
Ingredients
For the marinade:
1 ½ pounds (700g) beef sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
¼ cup (60ml) soy sauce
3 tablespoons vinegar (cane or white)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
6 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
For frying:
2 tablespoons cooking oil
½ cup water (optional, for tenderizing)
For serving (optional):
Garlic fried rice (sinangag)
Fried or sunny-side-up eggs (itlog)
Vinegar dipping sauce (sawsawan): mix vinegar, minced garlic, and chili
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the beef
Trim any excess fat and slice the beef thinly (about ⅛-inch thick) against the grain for tenderness.
Step 2: Make the marinade
In a bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt, pepper, oyster sauce, and oil. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
Step 3: Marinate the beef
Add the beef slices to the marinade, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.
Step 4: Cook the tapa
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the marinated beef and a bit of marinade. If needed, pour in ½ cup of water to tenderize. Simmer until the liquid reduces and the beef caramelizes. Continue frying until slightly crisp outside and juicy inside.
Step 5: Serve and enjoy
Serve hot with garlic fried rice and fried eggs for the full tapsilog experience. Add vinegar dipping sauce on the side for a tangy finish.
Notes
Slice against the grain to keep the beef tender.
Marinating overnight deepens the flavor beautifully.
Avoid overcooking; caramelized edges should stay juicy inside.
You can replace beef with chicken, pork, or tofu for variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 4–8 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Main Course
- Method: Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (with rice and egg)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: Savory Beef Tapa, Filipino breakfast, tapsilog recipe, marinated beef, Filipino cuisine