Bistek Tagalog Beef Slices Braised in Soy and Citrus

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Thinly sliced beef marinated and braised in a savory soy sauce and bright kalamansi or lemon juice, served with caramelized onions for a Filipino classic. This Filipino-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs beef sirloin, thinly sliced, soy sauce, kalamansi juice or lemon juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 40 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb beef sirloin, thinly sliced
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup kalamansi juice or lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium white onions, sliced into rings
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/4 cup water
1 tsp brown sugar
to taste salt

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Instructions

Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 lb thinly sliced beef sirloin with 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup kalamansi or lemon juice, and 4 minced garlic cloves. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté 2 medium sliced white onion rings for 5-6 minutes until softened and golden brown. Remove onions and set aside.
Step 3: In the same skillet, add the marinated beef along with 1/4 cup water and 1 tsp brown sugar. Cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is tender and sauce slightly thickens.
Step 4: Return the caramelized onions to the skillet, season with 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste. Stir to combine and cook for 2 more minutes. Serve hot with steamed rice.