Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness: 130°F for medium-rare, 160°F for well-done.

- For beef steak, let the pan get very hot before adding the meat to achieve a proper crust.

- Bring beef to room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking for more even doneness.

- For ground beef, break it apart early and cook until the liquid evaporates for a dry, flavorful base.

Cooking Tips

Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through. Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.

Ingredient Substitutions

No soy sauce? Use tamari (gluten-free), coconut aminos (paleo-friendly), or a mix of fish sauce and water for a different but delicious umami profile. For a low-sodium version, use light soy sauce or dilute regular soy sauce with a splash of water or broth. Beef alternatives: For stews, pork shoulder or oxtail provide similar richness. For steaks, try portobello mushrooms or cauliflower steaks for a vegetarian twist. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.

Beef Stir Fry

Beef Stir Fry

Metro Manila, NCR

Made with beef tenderloin, oyster sauce, soy sauce and cornstarch — a hearty Filipino dish that's simple to cook and satisfying to share.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 9 min Total: 14 min Medium Serves 4

Instructions

  1. Combine beef, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and ground black pepper. Mix well. Let it stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Mix in cornstarch into the bowl. Mix until all ingredients are well distributed. Set aside.
  3. Heat oil in a pan. Fry bell peppers for 1 minute. Stir once in a while. Remove bell peppers from the pan. Set aside.
  4. Using the remaining oil, stir fry marinated beef until it starts to brown.
  5. Mix in fried bell peppers and toss until all ingredients are distributed.
  6. Transfer beef stir fry to a serving plate.
  7. Serve with rice

Kitchen Tools We Recommend

Cook Beef Stir Fry the easy way with the right tools. Shop our favorite kitchen essentials on Amazon — from reliable pots and pans to measuring tools that make Filipino cooking simpler.

🔥 Trending on Amazon right now — these products are selling fast. Check out what's climbing the charts.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness: 130°F for medium-rare, 160°F for well-done.
- For beef steak, let the pan get very hot before adding the meat to achieve a proper crust.
- Bring beef to room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking for more even doneness.
- For ground beef, break it apart early and cook until the liquid evaporates for a dry, flavorful base.

Cooking Tips

Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.
Have all your ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking — quick dishes leave no time for chopping mid-recipe.

Substitutions

No soy sauce? Use tamari (gluten-free), coconut aminos (paleo-friendly), or a mix of fish sauce and water for a different but delicious umami profile.
For a low-sodium version, use light soy sauce or dilute regular soy sauce with a splash of water or broth.
Beef alternatives: For stews, pork shoulder or oxtail provide similar richness. For steaks, try portobello mushrooms or cauliflower steaks for a vegetarian twist.
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
R

Tita Liza Reyes

Heirloom Recipes & Modern Adaptations

Tita Liza Reyes is a contributor to the UlamDaily editorial team. A retired school teacher from Batangas with over 30 years of home cooking experience, she helps document and adapt heirloom recipes from across the Philippines for today's kitchen.

Comments (0)

Leave a comment