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Bitoque
Bitoque: thin pan-fried steak topped with a fried egg, with chips, rice and a garlic pan sauce
Bitoque is the dish Portuguese office workers order when they can't decide: on every café lunch menu in Lisbon there is a thin steak in a garlicky pan sauce, a fried egg sliding over it, and chips, rice and a little salad heaped alongside. It is cheap, filling and quick, and a good one depends on a properly hot pan and a runny yolk that mixes into the sauce. Some cooks splash in beer; this version keeps it alcohol-free with stock. A common mistake is crowding the pan, which stews the steaks instead of searing them. Chef's tip: fry the eggs in the steak pan's garlicky fat so they pick up its flavour.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the steaks
To serve
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Fresh ingredients (6)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Soak the 1 ¾ lb potatoes in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and dry very well on a towel.
10 minStep 2: Heat 4 ¼ cups sunflower oil to 325°F and fry the chips in batches for 5–6 minutes until soft but pale. Lift out, raise the oil to 375°F and fry again for 2–3 minutes until crisp and golden. Drain and salt. Keep warm in a low oven.
20 minStep 3: Season the 4 thin beef steaks with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat until shimmering, with 4 cloves garlic and 1 bay leaf.
Step 4: Sear the steaks, two at a time, for 1½–2 minutes a side until browned. Take out the garlic if it darkens too much. Rest the steaks on a warm plate.
8 minStep 5: Turn the heat down to medium, add ⅔ oz butter, then crack in 4 eggs and fry until the whites are set and the edges lacy but the yolks still runny, about 3 minutes. For pregnant women, young children or anyone vulnerable, fry until the yolks are firm.
3 minStep 6: Set the eggs aside, pour ½ cup beef stock into the pan and boil for 1–2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits, until slightly syrupy. Return any juices from the resting steaks.
2 minStep 7: Plate each steak, spoon over the sauce and top with an egg. Serve with the chips, 14 oz cooked white rice and 4 handfuls lettuce and tomato salad if using.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 780 kcal
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbs
- 72 g
- Fat
- 33 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bitoque take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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