Enjoy a tangy, savory Vegan Bistek that's easy to make and perfect for a healthy family meal! Just marinate rehydrated Meat Magic with soy sauce, calamansi juice, and spices, then sauté with onions for a hearty, flavorful dish. Serve with steamed rice for a guilt-free feast!
Looking for more Filipino dishes? Try my Crispy KangKong, Laing, or my delicious Tofu Adobo Rice!
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What is Vegan Bistek?
This Vegan Bistek is a healthy version of Bistek Tagalog (Filipino "Beef" Steak) that is great for a delicious plant-based lunch or dinner. Bistek simply means "beef steak" in English and it derives from the word “bistec” in Spanish, which means thinly sliced beef.
In this vegan version, I used a combination of fried magic meat, marinade mixture, vegetable broth, and onion slices which makes a healthy and hearty Filipino dish. It is super easy to cook and needs simple ingredients only. The savory and tangy taste of this dish and steamed rice just makes a perfect pair! Try and enjoy this easy vegan Filipino recipe!
Health Benefits of Meat Magic
- It has no cholesterol.
- It is rich in dietary fiber.
- A healthy meat alternative.
- Contains essential amino acids.
- A good source of phytochemicals.
Tips and Procedures
- It is best to marinate the vegan meat before cooking.
- You can use lemon juice or lime juice instead of calamansi juice.
- Vegan beef bouillon can be used instead of vegetable broth.
- Squeezing out the liquid from the meat magic after the rehydration process is a necessary move.
- Feel free to use mushrooms, tofu, and potatoes for this vegan bistek.
- If you can't find Magic Meat product, you can use any TVP product.
- Storage: Put the leftovers in an airtight container and place them in the fridge. It can last for up to four days.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- Meat Magic (equivalent to Magic Meat if you can't find it)
- hot water
- brown sugar
- soy sauce
- calamansi juice
- ground black pepper
- garlic
- sweet onions
- olive oil
- vegetable broth
- salt
- garlic
Substitutions
- Meat Magic (or Magic Meat) → Jackfruit, seitan, oyster mushrooms, or firm tempeh
- Hot water → Vegetable broth
- Brown sugar → Coconut sugar, date syrup, or maple syrup
- Soy sauce → Coconut aminos, tamari (gluten-free), or liquid aminos
- Calamansi juice → Lemon juice, lime juice, or apple cider vinegar
- Ground black pepper → White pepper or chili flakes
- Garlic → Roasted garlic, garlic powder, or shallots
- Sweet onions → Red onions, shallots, or leeks
- Olive oil → Avocado oil, sesame oil, or water sautéing
- Vegetable broth → Mushroom broth or miso broth
- Salt → Pink Himalayan salt, sea salt, or potassium salt
Variations
- Japanese-Inspired Bistek - Swap calamansi juice with yuzu juice for a citrusy aroma and serve with steamed Japanese rice and shredded daikon radish.
- Mediterranean Bistek - Replace soy sauce with balsamic vinegar for a tangy depth and serve with couscous or hummus.
- Middle Eastern Bistek - Swap soy sauce with pomegranate molasses and tamari, then season with cumin and cinnamon for warmth.
Storage & Leftovers
- Refrigeration: Store Vegan Bistek in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of vegetable broth or water to prevent drying out.
Instructions
Rehydrate the meat magic with around 8 cups of hot water for 15 minutes. Rinse the rehydrated meat magic twice and squeeze out the water. Transfer to another mixing bowl:
In another mixing bowl, brown sugar, soy sauce, combine calamansi juice, ground black pepper, and minced garlic. Add in the rehydrated meat magic and marinate for 2 hours or best overnight:
In a frying pan over medium heat, add oil and fry the marinated meat magic until browned. Push the meat to the side and add the sliced onions and saute for a minute:
Pour in the marinade mixture and vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce it to a simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and sprinkle with crispy garlic:
Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Top Tips
Marinate for Maximum Flavor – Let the mock meat or tofu soak in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for deeper flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
This vegan steak version is made with a delicious combination of fried magic meat, marinade mixture, vegetable broth, and onion slices.
Yes, it amazingly tastes almost like meat.
It is important to mix the rehydrated meat magic with the savory and tangy marinade sauce before cooking to make it flavorful.
Vegan Bistek
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Meat Magic
- 8 cups hot water
- 1 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup calamansi juice
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 small sweet onions sliced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon crispy garlic
Instructions
- Rehydrate the meat magic with around 8 cups of hot water for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the rehydrated meat magic twice and squeeze out the water. Transfer to another mixing bowl.
- In another mixing bowl, brown sugar, soy sauce, combine calamansi juice, ground black pepper, and minced garlic.
- Add in the rehydrated meat magic and marinate for 2 hours or best overnight.
- In a frying pan over medium heat, add oil and fry the marinated meat magic until browned.
- Push the meat to the side and add the sliced onions and saute for a minute.
- Pour in the marinade mixture and vegetable broth.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce it to a simmer for 2 minutes.
- Season with salt and sprinkle with crispy garlic.
- Serve with steamed white rice.
Notes
- You can use lemon juice or lime juice instead of calamansi juice.
- Squeezing out the liquid from the meat magic after the rehydration process is a necessary move.
Sheen says
Delicious!!
Liz says
I LOVE using Magic Meat! If you flavor it just right, the meat is sooo good! Looking forward to trying this recipe!