Lomo Saltado: Peruvian Stir-Fry Magic
Lomo Saltado is a classic Peruvian stir-fry, a vibrant fusion dish that perfectly blends Peruvian ingredients with Asian stir-frying techniques. It features tender strips of beef, onions, tomatoes, and crispy French fries, all tossed in a savory, tangy sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef sirloin cut into 1-inch strips
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil plus more for fries
- 1 medium red onion cut into thick strips
- 2 medium Roma tomatoes cut into thick wedges
- 2 fresh aji amarillo peppers deseeded and sliced (or 2 tbsp aji amarillo paste)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/4 cup beef broth optional
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/2 lb frozen French fries or homemade
- to taste salt
- to taste freshly ground black pepper
- cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Season beef strips generously with salt and pepper. Cook the fries: If using frozen, cook according to package directions until golden and crispy. If making homemade fries, cut potatoes into sticks and fry until golden and crispy. Set aside, draining any excess oil. Stir-fry beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large wok or heavy-bottomed skillet over very high heat until it begins to smoke. Add beef in batches (to avoid overcrowding) and stir-fry quickly until browned on all sides, about 1-2 minutes per batch. Remove beef from the wok and set aside. Sauté vegetables: Add a little more oil to the wok if needed. Add red onion, aji amarillo (or paste), and minced garlic. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until slightly softened but still crisp. Add tomatoes and sauce: Add tomato wedges to the wok and stir-fry for 1 minute. Deglaze the pan by pouring in the red wine vinegar, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the wok. Combine: Return the cooked beef to the wok. Add soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and cumin powder. Toss everything together to combine well. If the mixture appears too dry, add a splash of beef broth. Finish: Add the cooked French fries and fresh chopped cilantro to the wok. Toss quickly to coat everything in the sauce and heat through, about 1 minute. Serve: Serve immediately with cooked white rice on the side.
Notes
Use a wok or large skillet for best stir-frying results and ensure it's very hot before adding ingredients. For extra spice, add a dash of rocoto paste. Serve immediately with a side of fluffy white rice to soak up all the delicious sauce. You can substitute beef sirloin with tenderloin or flank steak.