Roast-Si-Log - Roast Beef - Sinangag [fried rice] - Itlog [egg]

Go around Metro Manila and when you order breakfast, you'll never miss TAP-SI-LOG on any menu. TAP-SI-What? Tapsilog (Tapa-sinangag-itlog / Beef - fried rice - egg combo) is a classic Filipino breakfast and truly one of my fave. Tapsilog is the term used when tapa (beef), fried rice (sinangag), and fried egg (itlog) are combined into one meal often served during breakfast but may be eaten anytime of the day.

 

Tapa, on the other hand, is dried or cured beef, similar to Beef Jerky. Thin slices of meat are cured with salt and spices as a method of preserving them. Tapa is best fried or grilled and often served with vinegar on the side. 

 When I used to work for the Supreme Court, I was able to order home-made tapa. It was delicious! The beef was already marinated and ready-to-cook. How easy was that? I miss those days. So far, I haven't been able to duplicate that kind of yummy beef tapa but I found a way to use left-over roast beef to make my own tapa (without any hasle) and discovered that it tastes similar to the "real cured tapa" but is never tough.

Nowadays, when I have left-over roast beef, then it would be on my breakfast menu the next day. I just fry the roast beef, in small batches, until it has dried a little and has some crunchy bite into it. While frying, I season it with a little salt and pepper and then shred them afterwards. Then to make it complete, I make some fried rice and  sunny-side up eggs to go with it. Easy and delicious! It's like I never left Manila.

I do hope someday to try and make my own "traditional tapa." For now Roast-Beef Tapa is fine for me! :-) Here's how to make easy -TAP-SI-LOG.

Ingredients

Left-over roast beef - here's the link to my slow-cooker roastbeef that I use for this.

Eggs (depends on how many you want to make)

2-3 cups cold left-over rice - if you want to make a more fancy fried rice - here's the recipe link

3-4 Garlic cloves, crushed

Oil

Salt and Pepper, to taste 

Procedure
Fried Rice

1. Heat a little oil in a wok or a large frying pan. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.

2. Add the cold rice and stir-fry until fully warmed up. Season with salt and add a little soy sauce for color. 

   

Roast Beef.
Cut the roast beef into smaller chunks. Heat a frying pan with some oil (or if beef has enough fat on it, I leave out the oil). Fry the beef and season with salt and pepper. When it's already brown and crunchy, shred into pieces or leave as is.  

Eggs
As part of this breakfast dish, the eggs are usually fried and seasoned with a bit of salt on top.

Finally, assemble the rice, eggs and beef in a plate and enjoy with coffee!