Peruvian cuisine was a well kept secret for a very long time; I do not recall ever hearing about Peruvian food or Peruvian restaurants when I was a child but their flavorful recipes have been around for a very long time. Peru is a vast country with a myriad of climates that provide a wide selection of ingredients. I don’t think that I have ever tried a Peruvian dish that I did not like but Lomo Saltado is certainly one of my favorites.
This Recipe uses Ingredients that can be found at most US grocery stores and it is relatively simple to follow.
Ingredients:
- 1 Lb of Ribeye or New York Steak – Personally, I prefer Ribeye due to its tenderness and more intense flavor. Costco is definitely my goto place for steaks.
- 1 Table Spoon of Oyster Sauce
- 2 Table Spoons of White Vinegar
- 2 Table Spoons of “Aji Amarillo” – this literally means “Yellow pepper” and it is a spicy-and-tangy sauce that is made of Peruvian Yellow Peppers, it is easy to get at most grocery stores or online .
- 1 Medium Red Onion
- 2 Roma Tomatos
- 2 Cloves of Garlic
- 1/2 cup of Fresh Cilantro
- 3-4 Green Onions
- 1/2 Lb of french fries
- Salt and pepper to taste
Before you Start
You should get everything ready before you start sautéing the beef. Everybody will tell you that dinners should wait for this dish, not the other way around. This dish is traditionally served with white rice so, it is a good idea to prepare the rice while you are getting the other ingredients ready.
Start by preparing the french fries. Thinker fries tend to work better because they will absorb the flavor more easily. Personally, I like to buy pre-fried “crunchy” fries from the frozen section of my local supermarket. I do not have a deep frier and the “pre-fried” fries tend to perform better under less ideal circumstances.
Cut the tomatoes and the red onion in wedges and set aside. Peel and cut the garlic cloves as well. Mix the Vinegar, oyster sauce, and Aji together and set aside.
Preparing the Beef (or Lomo)
- Cut the steaks in thick cubes that are approximately 1 in by 1 in. Add some salt and pepper to taste and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes while you are getting the other ingredients ready.
- Add a small amount of oil to a large wok and heat until the oil starts to smoke slightly (without letting it burn).
- Add the steak to the wok and move slightly to get it brown. This process takes 1 to 2 minutes. If you like intense flavors, you can add 1/2 table spoon of oyster sauce here.
- Add the garlic cloves and sauté briefly until the garlic is golden-brown
- Add the onion wedges and tomatoes and sauté for 1 more minute. At this point, some juice form the meat and the tomatoes will start accumulating in the wok, keep the flame high.
- Add the vinegar/oyster-sauce/aji mixture and let it evaporate fast for another 1 or 2 minutes.
- Add the fresh cilantro and green onions
- Add the French fries
- Serve
