30-Minute Bistec de Carne – Colombian Steak with Sauteed Onions and Tomatoes

I love a 30-minute bistec de carne dinner, especially mid-week when life is lifing, and all you have in the fridge is steak, leftover rice, and a couple of onions and tomatoes in the pantry.

This carne de bistec takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

To make it a complete dinner, reheat the rice and top this delicious Colombian steak with sauteed onions, tomatoes, with a fried egg for a traditional Colombian pairing.

This steak is delicious with cilantro lime rice and twice-fried plantains or sweet plantains (maduros).

Olga’s Notes

• This authentic Colombian dish can be enjoyed on its own or paired with complementary sides like rice, salads, and more
• The best dinner idea when you’re short on time
• No need to marinate the steak, so no additional prep time required

What Is Bistec de Carne?

Carne en bistec is a delicious Colombian dish. It has a thinly sliced steak cooked with onions and tomatoes.

Equipment Needed For This Recipe

1. Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
2. Medium-Sized Bowls for the sliced ingredients
3. Tongs
4. Chef Knife
5. Wooden Cutting Board

See Recipe Card Below For Detailed Measurements and Instructions.

Ingredients for This Bistec Recipe

• Thin-sliced Colombian steak, sirloin tip steak, or flank steak – cut against the grain.
• Onions, diced or sliced
• Tomatoes, diced or sliced – I love Campari or vine-ripened tomatoes for this recipe because they’re slightly sweeter and caramelize beautifully.
• Cumin Powder
• Salt
• Pepper (optional)
• Minced Garlic (optional)
• Fresh Cilantro, for garnish
• Avocado Oil, or olive oil.

Choosing The Right Cut of Beef

For a great carne en bistec, pick a tender and flavorful beef cut. Here are two top choices:

1. Sirloin tip: A tender cut that soaks up the sauce well.
2. Flank Steak: Tender and delicious.
3. Skirt steak: Known for its bold taste and tender texture when sliced thin.

Make sure to slice the beef thinly. This ensures it cooks evenly and stays tender.

Additional Ingredients For A Complete Colombian Dish

• Leftover rice or freshly made jasmine rice, try this white rice recipe
• Eggs for a fried egg
• Avocado Oil, for the fried egg

Measurements and Quantities in the Recipe Card Below

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One – Prep

• Slice the steak against the grain
• Preheat the skillet, medium to high, you want a hot skillet
• Slice the onions, and chop the tomatoes, and set aside

Step Two – Sear the Steak

• Add oil to the preheated skillet
• Add the steak and sear for 2 minutes on each side, then set aside.

Step Three – Cook the Onions and Tomatoes

• Reduce the heat, add the remaining avocado oil, and add the onions until tender
• Add the tomatoes, cumin powder, salt, and pepper, and caramelize the onions and tomatoes

Step Four

• Add water to the skillet and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the steak back and continue cooking in until the liquid thickens, roughly 4- minutes.

Step Five – Reheat the Rice and Fry the Egg

• In a pot, reheat the rice
• While the rice reheats, preheat a skillet, add the oil, and drop an egg, and fry and egg.

Step Six – Serve

• Serve the rice, steak, and top with the fried egg.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Tips The Best Carne Bistec

1. Choose the best cut of beef – for a quick cook and tender finish. The sirloin tip is the best for this recipe because it’s lean and tender! So it’s so easy and fast to cook.
2. Allow the mashed potato to cool before forming into balls and stuffing the papas rellenas.

What To Serve With Carne de Bistec

Carne de bistec with rice is a must! The rice soaks up the sauce, and it’s just so perfect.

You can serve it with plain fluffy rice, chimichurri rice, or cilantro lime rice.

Carne de bistec is also perfect with arepa con queso, and a side of hogao.

FAQs