Chef Billy Parisi - Cooking (Probably) The Most Flavorful Steak in the World
The video explains how to prepare Bistek Tagalog, a classic Filipino dish, using ribeye steak for its marbling and tenderness. The steak is thinly sliced and marinated in a mixture of Filipino soy sauce, citrus juice, garlic, black pepper, and sugar. The marinade enhances the steak's flavor and aids in browning during cooking. The steak is seared quickly in a hot pan to maintain tenderness. The video also covers making perfect jasmine rice by toasting it before boiling, which reduces cooking time and prevents clumping. The dish is served with caramelized onions and a rich sauce made from the marinade, additional soy sauce, lemon juice, and beef stock, thickened with a cornstarch slurry. The final dish is garnished with green onions and served with rice.
Key Points:
- Use ribeye steak for better marbling and tenderness.
- Marinate steak in Filipino soy sauce, citrus juice, garlic, and sugar for enhanced flavor.
- Toast jasmine rice before boiling to reduce cooking time and prevent clumping.
- Sear steak quickly in a hot pan to maintain tenderness and flavor.
- Serve with caramelized onions and a thickened sauce made from the marinade.
Details:
1. 🥩 Introduction to Bistek Tagalog
- Bistek Tagalog is a classic Filipino dish consisting of steak marinated in a savory, umami-rich sauce.
- The dish is typically seared, braised, and served over rice, making it a staple in many Filipino households.
- The introduction suggests potential improvements to the traditional recipe by incorporating insider tips, aiming to enhance flavor and appeal.
- Traditionally, the beef is marinated in soy sauce, calamansi juice, and garlic, before being cooked with onions and sometimes bell peppers.
- Bistek Tagalog is not just a dish, but a part of Filipino cultural heritage, often served during family gatherings and celebrations.
- To improve the traditional recipe, consider experimenting with different cuts of beef or adjusting the marinade ratios to suit personal taste preferences.
- Cooking tip: Ensure the beef is thinly sliced for better absorption of the marinade and quicker cooking time.
2. 🔪 Preparing and Marinating the Steak
- Use 3 pounds of boneless pasture-raised ribeye steak for excellent marbling and flavor.
- Consider alternative cuts like flank or skirt steak for cost savings.
- Thinly slice the steak on a wide bias for large cuts that shrink when seared.
- Remove excess fat to improve tenderness and flavor.
- Clean cutting surfaces thoroughly after handling raw beef to maintain hygiene.
- For the marinade, use 1/2 cup of Filipino soy sauce, or substitute with dark or regular soy sauce.
- Use a combination of 2 limes and 1 lemon to achieve 1/3 cup of citrus juice as a substitute for calamansi.
- Include 4 cloves of garlic and 3/4 teaspoon of black pepper for added flavor.
- Add 2 teaspoons of sugar to enhance the Maillard reaction during searing.
- Marinate the beef for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours; overnight (12-16 hours) is optimal.
- Before cooking, let the marinated beef reach room temperature for even cooking.
- Toast 2 cups of jasmine rice for 5-6 minutes to add flavor and reduce cooking time.
- Cook rice with 3 3/4 cups of water for 12-14 minutes after toasting for perfect texture without clumping.
- Strain the marinated beef to retain liquid and improve searing quality by drying the meat slightly.
3. 🍚 Making Perfect Rice
- To achieve perfectly cooked rice, begin by rinsing the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, ensuring a fluffy texture when cooked.
- Use a 1:1.5 ratio of rice to water for most types of white rice, adjusting slightly based on specific rice variety or desired texture.
- Incorporate aromatic flavors by cooking rice with sweet onions, which provide a subtle sweetness without overpowering the dish.
- Caramelize onions by slicing them thick and cooking them on high heat until one side is brown, enhancing the rice's flavor profile.
- For additional flavor, consider briefly searing meat such as ribeye, using the fond left in the pan to add depth to the rice dish.
- Utilize high smoke point oils, like avocado oil, for both searing and sautéing, ensuring optimal caramelization and preventing burnt flavors.
- Maintain a high cooking temperature when searing ingredients to lock in flavors quickly while preventing overcooking.
- Experiment with adding broth or stock in place of water to infuse the rice with additional layers of flavor.
4. 🔥 Cooking and Serving the Bistek Tagalog
4.1. Cooking the Bistek Tagalog
4.2. Serving the Bistek Tagalog
5. 👌 Final Touches and Conclusion
- Serve the dish with rice on the side or place beef steak on top as per preference for presentation flexibility, ensuring a visually appealing and satisfying meal.
- The recipe is praised for being quick, easy, and successfully delivering authentic Filipino flavors, making it ideal for those seeking a taste of Filipino cuisine without extensive preparation.
- For viewers interested in exploring more Filipino dishes, the video recommends the chicken adobo recipe as a next step, encouraging further culinary exploration.