Tapsilog (Filipino Beef Tapa with Garlic Fried Rice and Egg)
In short: Thin-sliced beef marinated in soy, calamansi and garlic, pan-fried until caramelized, served with garlic fried rice, a fried egg and spiced vinegar. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 640 kcal
Tapsilog is a Filipino breakfast built from three parts: tapa (cured, thin-sliced beef), sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (fried egg). The name comes from joining the three words. The beef is marinated in soy sauce, calamansi, garlic and a little sugar, then seared until its edges caramelize. Everything is served with a small dish of spiced vinegar for dipping. The same pattern works with other proteins, like longganisa (longsilog) or fried milkfish (bangsilog).
Instructions
- Mix the beef with the garlic, soy sauce, calamansi juice, sugar and pepper. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- Make the dip by stirring the vinegar, garlic, chili and salt together in a small bowl.
- Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over high heat. Lift the beef from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and cook it in batches for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until browned and caramelized. Keep it warm.
- Break up the cold rice with your hands. Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil for the rice in a wok over medium heat and fry the garlic for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden. Add the rice and salt and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until hot and lightly crisp.
- Fry the eggs in the 1 tablespoon of oil for 2 to 3 minutes, until the whites are set and the edges are crisp.
- Pile the rice on plates and add the beef, an egg and tomato slices. Serve with the vinegar dip.
Tips
- Freeze the beef for 30 minutes before slicing so it cuts thin and clean. A longer marinade gives deeper flavor and a more tender bite.
- Day-old rice fries best because it has dried out, while fresh rice turns mushy. Cook the beef in batches so that it sears instead of steaming.
Questions and answers
What does tapsilog mean?
It joins tapa (beef), sinangag (garlic rice) and itlog (egg). Swap the first part for tocino or longganisa to make tocilog or longsilog.
What is the best cut of beef for tapa?
Sirloin, flank or round, sliced thin against the grain. Cheaper cuts tenderize well in the marinade.
Can I make the tapa ahead of time?
Marinate it up to 2 days in the fridge, or freeze it in the marinade for 2 months. Thaw overnight and cook in a very hot pan.
How long does it take to make Tapsilog (Filipino Beef Tapa with Garlic Fried Rice and Egg)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tapsilog (Filipino Beef Tapa with Garlic Fried Rice and Egg)?
About 640 kcal per serving, with 46 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 28 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 640 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 46 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
