Bistec Encebollado is a Colombian-Style Steak with Onion Sauce. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal, it's easy to make and delicious served with white rice, beans and avocado.
What is Bistec Encebollado?
It's steak cooked in a onion sauce, a Colombian classic dish. It is also one of my favorite recipes! it is especially good over white rice with beans and tomato-avocado salad on the side.
Tips to to Make this Dish
I recommend marinating the steak for at least 3 hours or overnight. Remember, the longer it marinates, the more flavorful the dish will be.
If you don't want to use wine,replace it with beef broth.
This delicious bistec encebollado recipe will last up to 4 to 5 days in the fridge stored in a sealed, airtight container. This dish tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients in this Bistec Encebollado Recipe
You'll find the printable recipe card with ingredients and directions below.
Steak: I recommend using sirloin, skirt steak or beef tenderloin to make this dish.
Vegetables: Garlic, onions and tomatoes.
Oil and Butter: I like to use a combination of oil and butter. You can use vegetable, canola and olive oil.
Seasoning: Mustard,cumin, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and red wine.
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Bistec Encebollado Recipe (Colombian-Steak with Onion Sauce)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skirt steak or filet
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus more to cook the beef
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- Salt and pepper
- 2 small onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tomato finely chopped
- 3 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons red wine
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, cumin, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Be sure the steaks are evenly covered.
- In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the tomato, worcestershire sauce, wine, salt and pepper. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Place the steaks into the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side. Add the onion sauce, mix and serve.
Dorothea
Hi! We had Colombian food in Florida & really were impressed. We're Meatetarians & so more options always welcome! The marinating required some pre-planning which was good with long weekend. Had no wine in the house so web suggested red wine vinegar. Raves above on onion sauce completely justified, absolutely fabulous. Trying again this time with skirt steak. Let's see what happens...
M & D
Jill
Can you link a recipe to make the beans with potato and carrots pictured here? I'm dying to make it.
Amanda
Hi Erica,
You mention in the directions to add the tomato, but I don't see tomato listed in your ingredient list. Will you please clarify if it is tomato sauce or tomatoes?
Laura
Tonight I made the bistec and it was amazing, I used a fancier mustard and it was still delicious. Love knowing this is a dish I will definitely repeat with the family!
I did have one set back, I had difficulty with the onion sauce. I ended up not mixing it because the 3 tablespoons of wine was overpowering. Now that I look at your photos, the onion portion looks so different. Any tips when creating the sauce.
Cindi
Erica, I am so glad to have found your site! This sounds delicious. Is the mustard dry mustard powder, yellow mustard or a different kind?
Thanks again!
Cindi
Erica
Cindi- yellow mustard
Bessy
Soy salvadoreña y me encanta la comida colombiana . Gracias por tus recetas estan deliciosas . Voy hacer empanadas a tu estilo y tambien el bistek encebollado.
Marta
Erica, thank you so much for all the delicious recipes, I love every single one. Do you have any idea about the "carne puya"? como dicen en Cartagena.
Thanks, again Marta
Erica
Marta- I don't have a recipe for "Carne de Puya".
Carla
Okay thank you so much! You're very helpful! (:
Carla
This looks so great! Do you have and backgrond info on the dish because I've been wanting to know more about Colombian dishes? Thanks!
Erica
Carla- I don't have more info about this dish, I am going to ask some friends and family.
Andrea
Erica,
My husband and I just enjoyed this dish - and he's Swedish ! Even the avocado salad was just perfect. Thanks to you I've been able to enjoy the food I grew up with and also been able to introduce hubby to Colombian food.
Thank you - I'm so glad I found your website!
Andrea
Erica
Thank you everyone for visiting my site 🙂
Oysterculture
I can see why this is a classic - sounds about perfect. Just need to pick up a nice cut of beef.
Danielle
mmm....cooked in onion sauce? that sounds really good
norma
Erica:
This is also a favorite in Puerto Rico. I forgot how good it is until I saw yours.
Carla
That is too funny. I just made Bistec de Palomilla the other night, except that I have had a terrible cold and have not been posting very much lately. It is almost the exact same dish. I am just trying to catch up now.
Pam
Oh, this looks so delicious! This is my first visit here and I will return for sure! This sounds like the perfect dinner! Thanks!