This Bistec a Caballo recipe is comforting and simple. The perfect weeknight meal dish served over white rice to soak the delicious sauce.
What is Bistec a Caballo?
It is a traditional and popular Colombian dish. It is basically a piece of steak seasoned with spices and hogao a Colombian style tomato and onion sauce, topped with a fried egg. As far as the interesting name, I really don’t know from where it came, but do let me know if you find out 😉
I like to make my Bistec a Caballo with skirt steak or flank steak. Feel free to use sirloin or tenderloin if you prefer. It’s also likely you’ll have most of the ingredients to hand, so you can enjoy this comforting and delicious meal in no time.
What to Serve with this Dish?
I like to serve Bistec a Caballo with white rice to soak the delicious tomato sauce, avocado and ripe plantain on the side. A simple green salad is also a perfect side for this dish.
Ingredients to Make Bistec a Caballo
You can find the printable recipe card with the full ingredients list and directions below.
Beef: I recommend using skirt or flank steak for this recipe. Use sirloin tip if you prefer.
Oil: Use canola, vegetable or olive oil.
Vegetables: Garlic
Spices: I like using yellow mustard to marinade the beef, but you omit it if you don't like the flavor. Oregano, ground cumin, salt and pepper.
Herbs: Cilantro or parsley.
Sauce: I use my hogao recipe.
Eggs: Fried eggs are a must for a traditional Bistec a Caballo recipe.
Bistec a Caballo Recipe (Creole Steak on Horseback)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skirt steak trimmed and cut into 4 equal portions
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 cup hogao
- 4 fried eggs
Instructions
- Place the steaks between sheets of wax paper, then pound until each steak is about ¼ inch thick.
- Place the pounded steaks in a zip lock plastic bag. Add the mustard, oregano, cumin, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight. Be sure the steaks are evenly covered.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Place the steaks into the skillet and cook for 3 minutes per side.
- To serve: Pour hogao over the steaks and top with a fried egg.
Nutrition
More Weeknight Meal Ideas
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zerrin
Its name is so funny! And I like the idea of combining steak and egg in this shape.
marya
oh dear and here i am thinking it was horse steak hahha! It translates into horse steak in my language!
Anonymous
Lol thAts too funny. But it's real delish.
Judy Means
I simply can’t believe it! I thought I’d never find instructions for how to make this dish ever again. So good, and so filling. I worked 2 years in Colombia, living in Bucaramanga, and then in Barrancabermeja. I was served this once, and was a slave for life. I had it at least once a week for many years. Then tastes changed, and I stopped making it, soon forgetting how to make it. completely. And no recipe!!
BUT, I never could forget the name!!” Who could? It is now safely in my recipe file.
rebecca subbiah
oh I love this one Erica, Columbia has so much good food, I must visit, oh we are coming to NYC end of Sept can you recommend a restaurant love Rebecca
Natalia Castano
It is spelled Colombia not Columbia.
Latino Papi - Johnny Dingles
Im Colombian myself but is it really that important? I mean she asked for recommendations
ruth
Fried egg and steak-perfect combination!
velva
I think steak and eggs make a delicious combination.
Joan Nova
Horse steak is pretty funny.
I think it's 'a caballo' because it's on top. Like when you get on a horse.
P.S. I love fried egg 'a caballo' with rice + beans.
Erica
Thank you all for visiting!!!
Austin Krasjnacj
Grosse horse steak.... you Colombians...
sippitysup
Steak and Eggs what's so "horsey" about that? GREG
Kim
I keep seeing this kind of steak and eggs on the cooking shows. I think someone made something like this on Top Chef Masters. It makes me wonder why I never thought of it before. The egg looks so pretty on top of the steak. My hubby would love it : )
jimmy saville
i hope he did love it 🙂
Bunny
OH my word this looks so good! I know I would love this!
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
Love the name and the fried egg on top is awesome!
Tangled Noodle
My husband would love this! During which meal is this usually served? I have to admit that I'm stuck on the idea of egg as part of breakfast while many people would see the steak as more of later meal. I would gladly have this at any time of day or night! 😎
Erica
Hi Tangled Noodle,
In Colombia is served at breakfast, lunch or dinner!!! We eat a whole meal for breakfast 🙂
Felisha
Yum! Another one of my favorite colombian dishes! I love to see how the meat is marinated! Can't wait to try your recipe!! 🙂
Angie's Recipes
I like the name...the onion steak looks pretty and yummy.
Angie's Recipes
Erica
Thank you all for the nice comments! Glad you all are liking Colombian food!
Ben
That is really an interesting name... Maybe it is called that because the egg is riding the steak? or it was probably made with horse meat first? either way it looks delicious, especially the salsa.
Diana
This is perfect! I like my steak nice and thin and topped with the fried egg, mmmm!! Delicious! Great post!!
Danielle
oh boy does that look awesome! I bet I could get my husband to eat breakfast (he's not really a breakfast eater) if I served this to him! I'm going to have to give this one a try for sure! I'm so glad you posted this. YUM!
Mindy
I'm so upset that I'm so behind in my blog reading...this looks amazing! My husband is suspect of egg with non-traditional American foods, but I'm determined to convert him!
Sook
ha ha I too thought maybe it was a horse steak or something... funny me. It looks great!
Oysterculture
another great dish. I just recalled that I think I saw a Columbian restaurant in the Mission District here in SF, I must check it out as reading your posts always makes me hungary.
La Mas Linda
I made this last night for my husband, and he loved it!!!! Well I did too, lol:) It was delicious:)
Erica
Hi La mas linda,
Thank you so much for your feedback!
sandra g
Hola, cooked this sunday , it was great, my husband said that it remimded him of " bistec a lo pobre" from peru. Love sandra g.
Erica
Hola Sandra,
Thank you for your feedback! Glad you liked it!
Sue
This bisteca looks fantastic. I love steak and eggs, especially thin steak. Another one for my recipe book 🙂
Impromptu Diva
hmmm steak and eggs Columbian style, this is something to try!
Gina
My mom makes this, I love this dish!
Jorge
Erica, quick question...when you indicate the use of mustard, are you talking about standard mustard, Dijon or podwered mustard?...would the quantities change according to selection?
Many Thanks and can't wait to try this recipe...I am becoming very popular among my circle of friends...they are asking for recipes and the funny part they are all "gringos"....way to go Erica!
-:)
Erica
Jorge- I use regular mustard.The flavor will be different if you use a different kind of mustard!
Anonymous
Love this dish. Very easy and everyone loved it!!!!!!!
christina
in uruguay, we eat something similar to this for breakfast. steak, egg and french fries! just thinking about this is making me want one now! lol
Anonymous
I made this for my COLOMBIAN mom this weekend and she loved it! Thank you for the recipe. It was perfect.
rabbit hutch
This is my first time on your blog and I enjoyed reading your good article.
Chris @ Caribbeanpot.com
Looks like something I could have right now for breakfast!
happy cooking
chris...
Catalina L
I loved this steak, my boys loved it an my husband did too!!!! I'm hooked on your recipes Erica!!!! Thank you sooooo much!!!!!
By the way I am Colombian myself from Medellin and lived in Cartagena for about 9 years, then came to USA. My mom makes things a little different way, I love to alternate between your recipes and hers! Thank you soo much!!!!
melissa
I am so happy I found this great site. I am always home sick and miss my typical food. My husband always bothered me cause I dint know how to cook colombian food. But now at least once a week I make one of your colombian dishes! Today I'm making this.
Anonymous
This recipe came out perfect! Thank you for posting, I enjoyed making and eating it.
Ta
Esta receta tan deliciosa la hemos adaptado a nuestra cocina criolla aunque el origen en realidad es ruso. Lo cual no es inusual ya que muchísimas de las recetas en toda América son el resultado de un sincretismo mundial, exceptuando la cocina de los pueblos originarios de América.
Anonymous
Colombian cowboy feast… a dish on horseback. From Bogotá colombia
Pablo Dejesus
Colombian cowboy feast… a dish on horseback, from bogota colombia
Patti
Dios la tenga en la gloria --este era el plato favorito de mi viejita. En Puerto Rico tambien lo llamamos "a caballo, " un biftec, arroz y habichuelas con un huevo frito, y como dije era el plato favorito de mi mama.
Tatiana
This "a caballo" expression is used in Spaniard, Latin American cuisine and French cuisine (à cheval), and its related to the way to prepare and serve a plate. Is usually a piece of meat with eggs on top. However, the English way (Horseback) could be an appetizer like scallops wrapped in bacon that are on top of a toast.
In other words: one thing on top of the other makes it "a caballo".
pipe
This was incredibly delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Stacey A
Thank you for posting! I used to eat this at Colombian restaurants when I was little and I have been missing it. Finally, I was able to make it for myself since I've moved away. I appreciate so much!