A good piece of steak with a fried egg on top, with runny yolk! That’s the Portuguese classic Bitoque de Vaca also known as Bife com Ovo à Cavalo, which literally mean Steak with Egg on Horseback. That’s because the egg seems to be riding the steak (the horse?) or perhaps the steak is the saddle? We are not so sure, what we do know is that it’s delicious and one of the most popular ways of eating steak in Portugal, served at pastelarias and family restaurants across the whole country. Often when paired with fries, salad, and rice, makes the perfect meal to savour while drinking an imperial or glass of white.
Origins of Bitoque
Most cultures have an equivalent of steak with egg, so it’s hard to know exactly what country to give credit to this invention. In France it’s called steak haché avec oeuf à cheval or simply steak à cheval. In Colombia it might be referred to as bistec a caballo.
In Brazil, it’s simply bife à cavalo, and the recipe is essentially the same. Though the Portuguese might argue the name is incorrect since it implies the steak is on horseback and not the egg! Having said that, steak with a fried egg on top is usually considered a European dish, and you can find multiple recipes with the same concept across the continent.
You don’t even have to leave Portugal to find variations on the dish. Some recipes use pork instead of beef (bitoque de porco), others include a layer of prosciutto under the egg. You will also find variations with a sauce made from red peppers and tomatoes. We personally prefer the classic pastelaria style: a garlicky grilled steak with the egg on top, served with slightly oily fries, a simple salad or rice, or as is quite popular why not both?
About Our Portuguese Steak Recipe
This recipe is very simple, and to prepare it you will need only a handful of ingredients (if you don’t count basic ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, etc…) With such short ingredients list, we recommend choosing a good steak if possible, such as sirloin steaks or similar. In Portugal we recommend bife da vazia, picanha or maminha. We are using rump steak, maminha, that you can usually find as an entire piece vacuumed packed, this way we can use the remaining beef in other recipes.
Of course you can use any beef of your preference, just keep in mind that you might need to tenderize tougher steaks beforehand. The same applies to the white wine, we always say to choose a wine you would drink – which is pretty easy and cheap in Portugal. As for the rest of the ingredients, we used bay leaves, thyme, garlic, olive oil, butter, you know, the basic ingredients of Portuguese cooking!
How to Make Bife com Ovo à Cavalo – Portuguese Steak with Egg on Horseback
This uncomplicated and highly delicious recipe is suitable for all levels of cooks, and a great way to vary from traditional steak.
Bitoque de Vaca – Portuguese Steak with Egg on Horseback
2
servings5
minutes15
minutes690
kcalPortuguese steak, also known as Bitoque de Vaca in Portuguese, is a popular steak dish in Portuguese cuisine.
Ingredients
2 Beef Steaks
2 Whole Garlic Cloves
1 tsp Dijon Mustard
30 g Butter
100 ml White Wine
2 Eggs
3 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
2 Bay Leaves
2 Sprigs of Thyme
Directions
- Place a large skillet over medium to high heat, while it heats, season your steaks with salt and black pepper on both sides. The steaks should be placed at room temperature for about 30 minutes before this step.
- Once your pan is hot enough, add the olive oil, then grill the steaks on both sides until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side – the time will vary according to the thickness of the steak. The goal is to have a steak that’s still juicy on the inside and slightly pink.
- Remove the meat from the frying pan and set aside. Lower the heat, then add the garlic cloves, the butter, and the herbs, frying until aromatic, about 3 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with the white wine, and a splash of water. Add the mustard, stirring well until the sauce becomes slightly thicker. Season with more black pepper, and salt if necessary.
- Place a smaller non-stick pan over medium heat, once hot, add a drizzle of olive oil, then fry your eggs. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place your steak on a plate, then cover it with a couple of spoons of the sauce, serve with the fried egg on top. Serve it with some fries, salad or rice.
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know in the comments! If you are looking for other steak recipes, perhaps you should try this Portuguese steak sandwich, or for a classic meat stew Cozido à Portuguesa.
More Delicious Portuguese Recipes
- Prego no Pão – Portuguese Steak Sandwich Recipe
- Cozido à Portuguesa – Homemade Portuguese Stew
- Arroz de Pato – Portuguese Style Duck Rice
- Bacalhau com Natas – Portuguese Cod with Cream Recipe
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