Pan con bistec is made with steak, onions, mayo-ketchup, and papitas (potato sticks). I use cube steak, which cooks up juicy and tender. This delicious comfort food is super easy to put together on a busy weeknight. I love that this meal is also very kid-friendly. My kids love the potato sticks in the sandwich!
If you love street food and appetizers, check out these other recipes: alcapurrias, bacalaitos, empanadillas, sorullitos and Puerto Rican hot dogs. If you love steak, check out these steak recipes: bistec encebollado, churrasco, carne guisada and jibaritos.
Pan con bistec ingredients:
- Cube steak
- Pan sobao or pan de agua
- Iceberg lettuce
- Tomato
- Potato sticks
Please find the fully detailed recipe below, at the end of this blog post. Or click the Jump to Recipe button at the top of this page.
How to make pan con bistec?
Marinate the steak
Wash the cube steak with cold water and vinegar. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Place the steak in a bowl and add the oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Toss the steak until evenly coated in the marinade.
As for seasoning, I use my homemade adobo and sazón. They can easily be made with spices you probably have in your pantry.
Cook the steak
Place a pan over medium high heat. Drizzle some oil on the pan and sear the steak on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Add the onions to the pan and continue cooking for about 4-5 more minutes.
Toast the bread
Next, toast the bread in a sandwich press or place the bread on a skillet over medium high heat. Toast on both sides using a spatula to press the bread until it is flat.
Assemble the sandwich
Add steak to the bread, top with onions, mayo-ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, and papitas (potato sticks). ¡Buen provecho!
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Pan con Bistec (Steak Sandwich)
Ingredients
Steak
- 2 lbs cube steak
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp adobo
- 1/4 tsp sazón
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp ground oregano
- 1/8 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Bread
- 1 loaf Pan sobao or pan de agua can use Cuban bread or French bread
Mayo ketchup
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
Toppings
- 1/2 head iceberg lettuce thinly sliced
- 1 tomato thinly sliced
- potato sticks
Instructions
Marinate the steak
- Wash the cube steak with cold water and vinegar. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
- Place the steak in a bowl and add the oil, vinegar, and seasonings.
- Toss the steak until evenly coated in the marinade.
Cook the steak
- Place a pan over medium high heat. Drizzle some oil on the pan and sear the steak on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
- Add the onions to the pan and continue cooking for about 4-5 more minutes.
Toast the bread
- Toast the bread in a sandwich press or place the bread on a skillet over medium high heat. Toast on both sides using a spatula to press the bread until it is flat.
Assemble the sandwich
- Add steak to the bread, top with onions, mayo-ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, and papitas (potato sticks). ¡Buen provecho!
Check out my other Caribbean recipes!
Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Rice)
Alcapurrias (Puerto Rican Fritters)
Churrasco with Chimichurri Sauce
Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas)
Puerto Rican Potato Salad (Ensalada de Papa)
Arroz con Salchichas (Rice with Sausage)
Pegao (Puerto Rican Crispy Rice)
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