Sri Lankan bistake(steak with onions)
Beef bistek(bistec,bisteak) is basically a Sri Lankan version of a steak and onion recipe. The pepper beef is made by first marinating the beef in vinegar, pepper, and other spices, then cooking it until tender. The beef strips are then tossed and cooked with onion and green peppers.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
- 500 g to 750g of sliced beef(you can use flank steak)
- 1 tbsp garlic(3 cloves minced)
- Salt to season
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 3 tbsp pepper powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 a cup vinegar(use any type of white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar)
- 2 clove garlic sliced fine
- A sprig of curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf)
- 2 ″ piece of pandan leaf(optional)
- 2 ″ piece cinnamon
- 1/4 th cup oil(4 tablespoons of oil)
- 1 tbsp minced ginger(1 and 1/2 inch garlic piece grated or minced)
- 1 large onion chopped
- 4 banana peppers(substitute with green peppers)
- 2 green chillies cut or split in the middle
- 1 tsp mustard
- 2 large onions(cut into rings)
Instructions
- 1
Have all your ingredients ready.
- 2
The onions are used to cook the beef as well as at the end. They are cut differently for each of the cooking stages.
- 3
Chop 1 of the onions to cook, and the rest should be cut into rings.
- 4
Place the beef slice on a chopping board, pat dry with kitchen paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
- 5
Cut them into thin slices against the grain.
- 6
To break muscle fibres, you will need to pound the slices of beef, which is a quick way to tenderise the beef.
- 7
Either take each piece of sliced beef and pound it individually, or place them together and use the blunt side of your cleaver to whack them a few times. (read beginner’s tips above)
- 8
Place the beef slices in a bowl and add minced garlic(about 3 garlic cloves minced), salt to season, turmeric powder, pepper powder, sugar, and cumin powder.
- 9
And vinegar(any white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar).
- 10
To give a tangy taste to the beef slices as well as the bistek dish, add an extra 3-4 tablespoons.
- 11
Combine well and set aside for 30 minutes. The longer you marinate the beef for the bistek, the better it tastes.
- 12
If marinating for 1-2 hours, then cover with cling film and refrigerate.
- 13
Once the beef is marinated, place a medium-sized cooking pan over a stovetop.
- 14
Add the marinated beef, pandan leaf, curry leaves(a sprig, substitute with a bay leaf), cinnamon, and garlic.
- 15
Cook over medium heat until the beef releases its natural juice. 10-12 minutes.
- 16
Cook until the beef juice thickens and reduces by half.
- 17
Once cooked, transfer the cooked beef steak slices to a separate bowl.
- 18
Place the same cooking pan or a larger frying pan over the stovetop and pour in the oil.
- 19
Add the minced ginger, banana pepper, and green chillies.
- 20
Cook over medium heat until the peppers are soft. Add the mustard seeds, and cook for another minute.
- 21
Add the cooked beef slices.
- 22
And stir-fry for about 3-5 minutes over medium fire.
- 23
Pour in the beef juice, reduce the heat and slow-simmer until the beef slices are covered.
- 24
Add the onion rings and toss with the beef bistake(bisteak).
- 25
Taste and season with salt if needed. Serve warm.