Want different flavors from breakfast? Filipino breakfast recipes are delicious and have lots of different flavors and ingredients. They show the diverse food history of the Philippines. Each recipe, whether a hearty meat dish like tapsilog or a comforting rice porridge like arroz caldo, makes you feel welcomed and cared for. 

In this article, you will get the recipe for Filipino Beef Tapa. You will know the directions for recipes and many important information.

What IS Tapa?

People dry or cure meat to make tapa. They can use beef, pork, mutton, venison, or horse meat. Sometimes, you can use other meats or fish. Filipinos make tapas by cutting the meat into thin slices and preserving it with salt and spices.

Tapa is often fried or grilled. When served with fried rice and a fried egg, people call it tapsilog. The name combines tapa, sinangag (meaning fried rice), and itlog (meaning egg). Tapsilog sometimes comes with pickled papaya strips or sliced ​​tomatoes on the side. People usually use vinegar or ketchup as a sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Filipino Beef Tapa?

You’ll love Filipino beef tapa because it has a rich, savory flavor from marinating it in spices. The meat is tender and tasty, especially when grilled just right. It includes garlic fried rice and a sunny-side-up egg, making it a filling and satisfying meal. The taste and texture are better with pickled papaya or tomato, making it a delightful dish.

The Detailed Recipe Of Filipino Breakfast Recipes (Beef Tapa):

• Cuisine: Filipino
• Servings: 2 people
• Preparing Time: 12 Minutes
• Cooking Time: 12 Minutes
• Total Time: 24 Minutes
• Course: Breakfast
• Calories: 339  kcal
• Equipments:

1. Mixing Bowl
2. Pan or Skillet
3. Serving Dish

Ingredients For The Recipe:

• 1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced (premium, grass-fed for a tender and rich flavor)
• 1/4 cup fish sauce (authentic, fermented for deep umami notes)
• 3/8 cup brown sugar (6 tablespoons) (organic, with a hint of molasses for natural sweetness)
• 1/2 head garlic, peeled and minced (fresh, aromatic cloves for a spicy kick)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (freshly cracked for a subtle heat)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil (cold-pressed for a light and neutral flavor)

Instructions For The Recipe:

Here are the instructions for making the Filipino Beef Tapa Breakfast Recipe.

1. Prepare The Marinade: 

Combine 1/4 cup fish sauce, 6 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/2 minced garlic clove, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves and everything is well mixed.

2. Marinate The Beef: 

Add 1 pound of thinly sliced ​​beef sirloin to the bowl with the marinade. Ensure the beef is completely covered with the mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or better, overnight, to allow the flavors to soak into the meat.

3. Heat The Oil: 

Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet until hot but not smoking.

4. Cook The Beef: 

Remove the beef from the marinade, letting the excess liquid drip off. Place the beef pieces in a flat layer in the hot pan. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until they turn brown and are cooked.

5. Serve: 

Place the cooked beef tapa on a plate to serve. For a complete meal, eat it hot, with steamed rice, pickled vegetables, or a fried egg.

The Importance Of Ingredients Using In The Filipino Breakfast Recipes:

People enjoy Filipino breakfast recipes because they taste perfect and have a lot of different ingredients. Each ingredient is essential in making the delicious breakfast that people all over the Philippines love to eat. Let’s talk about why Filipino breakfast recipes need these ingredients.

1. Beef Sirloin:

Beef sirloin is a protein-rich meat commonly used in Filipino breakfast dishes. It adds a tasty and filling portion to the breakfast food, satisfying the appetite.

2. Fish Sauce: 

Fish sauce is a familiar flavor in Filipino cooking. Its salty, savory taste makes food delicious. When added to breakfast recipes, it makes the flavors richer and tastier.

3. Brown Sugar: 

Brown sugar sweetens the Filipino breakfast dish and adds a caramel-like flavor. It helps balance the salty flavors of beef and fish sauce, making everything go together.

4. Garlic, Peeled And Minced: 

Filipino cuisine commonly uses garlic because it offers flavor and versatility in various cooking methods. Chopping garlic into small pieces adds a zesty flavor to breakfast foods, making them more palatable. It goes well with other things you are cooking.

5. Ground Black Pepper: 

Black pepper powder adds spiciness and a natural flavor to Filipino breakfast dishes. It makes the food taste better and more attractive.

6. Canola Oil: 

Canola oil is often used for cooking in Filipino recipes because it does not have a strong flavor and can be very hot without burning. It cooks things like beef and garlic, which makes the food taste good.

Nutrition Information:

One Filipino Beef Tapa breakfast plate, which usually has 4-6 ounces of beef tapa, gives you about 250-300 calories. In this portion, you get around 15-20 grams of total fat and 5-8 grams of saturated fat. There are also about 70-100 milligrams of cholesterol and 800-1000 milligrams of sodium. The amount of carbs is low, about 5-10 grams, but there’s a good amount of protein, around 25-30 grams.

What Other Substitute Can I Use In The Filipino Breakfast Recipes?

In Filipino breakfast recipes, you can change the ingredients according to what you like to eat or if you need certain foods. For example, you can use chicken or pork tapa for a different taste if you don’t want beef tapa. You can use tofu or tempeh if you don’t eat meat. Also, if you dislike fish sauce, you can use soy sauce instead to make the dish tastier.

Related Questions:

What Are Some Traditional Filipino Breakfast Dishes?

Traditional Filipino breakfast recipes include Tapsilog (beef with garlic rice and egg), Tosilog (pork), Longsilog (sausage), and Bangsilog (fried milkfish). There’s also Champorado (chocolate rice porridge), Arroz Caldo (chicken rice porridge), and Pandesal (soft bread rolls with butter or cheese). 

These meals mix sweet, salty, and tasty flavors because many cultures influence Filipino food.

How Important Is Rice In Filipino Breakfasts, And Are There Alternatives?

Rice is essential to the Filipino breakfast and prominently features many traditional dishes. People often eat it with meat, eggs, or fish, making a substantial and satisfying meal. But if you want something different or a special diet, there are other choices. 

You can substitute breads like pandesal, sweet potatoes, taro, quinoa, or cauliflower instead of rice. This gives you more options to suit different tastes and diets.

Are There Regional Variations In Filipino Breakfast Recipes?

Different breakfast recipes exist in other parts of the Philippines because each region has its way of cooking. For example, in the Visayas region, people often eat seafood such as dried fish or salted eggs for breakfast.

The Bicol region may have dishes like laing made of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with rice. Also, each place uses local ingredients and cooking methods, making their breakfasts memorable and showcasing the food traditions of the Philippines.

Final Verdict:

Filipino breakfast recipes have many variations. There is a season, from salty to sour to sweet foods. All the dishes have different flavors, which show the country’s varied food history. Every Filipino dish is unique, from savory meat dishes like tapsilog to comforting rice porridges like arroz caldo. Filipino breakfasts are a delicious way to start the day. They will make you happy and remind you of their excellent taste.