From Alicia Maher’s cookbook, Delicious El Salvador, this recipe for Steak and Onions (Bistec Encebollado), is bursting with rich, delicious flavors and makes for a hearty, scrumptious dinner!
A couple of weeks ago Melissa’s Produce invited me to a cookbook signing and demo with the lovely Alicia Maher. She’s the author of Delicious El Salvador and Sabores Deliciosos.
Alicia was born and raised in El Salvador. It’s her mission to “preserve, rescue and document authentic Salvadoran recipes for her children, future generations, and food lovers everywhere.”
About Alicia Maher
Among other awards, in 2014, Delicious El Salvador won the Gourmand Award for Best First Cookbook in the World. In the world!
Every year the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards honor the best food and wine books, printed or digital. Books from 205 countries participate.
Alicia was also a contributor to The Immigrant Cookbook, representing the millions of Salvadoran immigrants living in the US.
The Delicious El Salvador Cookbook
There are 75 recipes in Delicious El Salvador and there are gorgeous photographs of each one, most of which were taken on location, in San Salvador.
I’ve always loved Salvadoran food, so I was super excited about this event. While Alicia was signing my book, I asked her if she has Salvadoran restaurants she would recommend. Without skipping a beat, she said, “in my kitchen, at home.” And fittingly, Delicious El Salvador is a guide to authentic Salvadoran home cooking.
You could feel Alicia’s passion for her country as she talked about the food and demonstrated recipes.
Steak and Onions (Bistec Encebollado)
While demonstrating the Steak and Onions (Bistec Encebollado, page 112), I decided that’s what I’d be making for dinner that night.
A staple of Salvadoran cuisine, Alicia described this as a dish as delicious, classic and easy for a busy night. All true!
It was the onions that really lured me in. My mom would have loved this dish, and wouldn’t have even had to say “double the onions, please.” 🙂
You can find out more about Alicia Maher on her site, Delicious El Salvador.
This is not a sponsored post. I was a guest to Alicia Maher’s cookbook signing and demo at Melissa’s Produce where I was given a copy of Delicious El Salvador.
I hope you try this recipe and love it as much and my family and I did!
From Alicia Maher’s cookbook, Delicious El Salvador, this recipe is bursting with delicious flavors and makes for a hearty, scrumptious dinner!
- 2 pounds top sirloin steak (or any other tender cut you prefer), sliced into 6 equal portions
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup yellow mustard
- 1 cup onion, thickly sliced (rings, 1/2-inch-thick)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 to 3 large tomatoes (firm but ripe), cut into about 12 slices (1/4-inch-thick)
- 6 leaves escarole or butter lettuce; or sprigs of watercress
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Trim any excess fat from the edges and pound the steaks with a meat mallet, to about 1/4-inch-thick. Season with he salt and pepper, rub with the mustard, place in a shallow dish, and add the sliced onions on top. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
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In a large skillet, heat the oil over a high flame until it's almost smoking. Season the steaks with the salt and pepper, and add them to the skillet. Cook on each side for about 1 minute, turning once, until golden brown. Remove the meat from the skillet and set aside in a serving dish.
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Reduce the flame to medium high, and in the same skillet with the oil remaining from cooking the steaks, fry the onions until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Reducing the flame to low, add the Worcestershire sauce and cook the onions for about another 20 seconds. Remove skillet from the stove.
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Top the steaks immediately with the onions and pan juices, then garnish before serving with the sliced tomatoes and greens of your choice.
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sippitysup says
I’ve been to El Salvador and eaten something quite similar to this there. Your version is prettier… GREG
valentina says
I hope to go one day. Yest another place on my super long list of places I must go to. 🙂 Thank you.
Chris Collins says
Steak and onions is my fav combo! The book looks fab, might have to get myself a copy 🙂
valentina says
Thanks, Chris! It’s truly a great book. For both inspiration and for following. 🙂
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Steak and onions is always such a great combination. This looks so good!
valentina says
Thank you! Hope you give it a try. 🙂
David @ Spiced says
What a fun event and cookbook! To be honest, I’m not all that familiar with Salvadoran food…but after seeing these photos, I need to be! I love a good steak, and then pile on those onions? Sign me up please! This looks delicious, Valentina!
valentina says
Thank you, David! I’m in total agreement about the onions! 🙂
Jacqueline Meldrum says
It’s always great to discover a good new cookbook you will actually cook from. I’m all in favour of lots of onions in dishes too.
valentina says
Thanks, Jacqueline! I agree about cookbooks. This one truly is great! 🙂
Mary Bostow says
Wow I’m sure my husband would like this recipe. I want to thank you for this great recipe! Looks very tasty. I definitely want to try it.
valentina says
Thanks, Mary. Hope you try it for him. 🙂
Julia says
I’ve never tried Salvadoran food but I like what I see :). That cookbook must be full of delicious recipes!
valentina says
It really is a lovely book, rich with culture and food! 🙂 Thank you!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
The mustard and Worcestershire sauce must add a zip to the steak…it sounds great.
valentina says
They do indeed. Thank you. Hope you give it a go. 🙂
Cathy says
I just made this for my mom and she loved it. Such a wonderful combination of flavors.
valentina says
Totally agree! Weren’t the onions amazing!?
David says
I love simple and authentic meals like this, Valentina! Your presentation is gorgeous, and it’s great to know about Alicia and her. Ppl. El Salvadoran cuisine is new to me!
David says
Ugh… “Alicia and her book!” I hate autocorrect!
valentina says
Ha! Totally get it. I “write” the craziest things sometimes. 🙂 xo
valentina says
Thank you! Authentic and simple really is the best. It’s a really lovely book. 🙂
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
My husband’s kind of salad for dinner! Simple and bursting with flavor are the best kind of recipes.
valentina says
Yes! I agree. Enjoy and thank you!
Ron says
A truly beautiful dish. Alicia’s cookbook looks fantastic and it’s now on my official US Christmas list. Thanks for introducing me to Alicia’s Delicious El Salvador cookbook.
valentina says
Thank you, Ron! Hope Santa bring you the book. 😉
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Steak and onions? Yes, please — love that combo. Your version looks great! Sounds like a fun cookbook, too. Thanks!
valentina says
Thank you, John! Yes, I’m loving the book.