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Silpancho
Cochabamba's thin breaded steak over rice and potatoes with a fried egg and salsa
Silpancho is the pride of Cochabamba in Bolivia and is sold in huge portions at the city's lunchtime silpancherías: a layer of rice, then sliced fried potatoes, then a beef steak pounded so thin it covers the plate, breaded and fried, topped with a fried egg and a fresh salsa of tomato, onion and locoto chilli. The mistake is not pounding the meat thin enough; it should be about 3 mm, so it fries in a minute and stays tender. Chef's tip: press the breadcrumbs into the meat with the palm of your hand, then pound lightly once more so they stick.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 3 tomatoes, 1 red onion, 1 locoto or other hot chilli, 3 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tbsp white vinegar and a pinch of ⅜ tsp salt for the salsa. Chill.
Step 2: Put each slice of 1 ⅓ lb beef topside or rump between sheets of cling film and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until about 3 mm thin and very wide. Season with the rest of 1 ⅛ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Spread 4 oz fine breadcrumbs on a large plate, lay each steak on it, sprinkle more crumbs on top and press firmly with your palm. Pound lightly once more.
Step 4: Heat 2 tablespoons of ¾ cup vegetable oil in a large frying pan and fry 1 ⅓ lb potatoes for 8 minutes until golden. Keep warm.
8 minStep 5: Heat more oil and fry each steak for 1–2 minutes a side, until golden and cooked through, with no pink in the thin meat (160°F). Drain on kitchen paper.
8 minStep 6: Fry 4 eggs in the remaining oil until the whites are set; cook until the yolk is firm for young children or pregnant guests.
4 minStep 7: On each plate layer 10 ½ oz white rice, potatoes, a steak and an egg, and spoon salsa over.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 820 kcal
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbs
- 88 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does silpancho take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of fine breadcrumbs?
- Crushed crackers or cornflakes, same amount.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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