Steak and Onions (Dibi/Afra)

Cubed steak on a plate with cooked onions and baguette slices.

5 from 1 vote

This recipe has many different names including Steak and Onions, Dibi, and Afra. It is a street food recipe from The Gambia made by sauteing steak pieces with mustard and onions. It is best served with a fresh baguette!

Course Main Course

Cuisine gambian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 396kcal

Author Alexandria Drzazgowski

Equipment

Ingredients

2 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 lb sirloin steak or any other kind of meat that you want. You can also do lamb, etc cut into large, bite sized pieces
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp black pepper (Use code FF20 for 20% off)
1 tsp Better than Bouillon/1 Beef Bouillon Cube
3 tsp yellow Mustard + more for serving
1 sweet onion sliced very large into rounds (4 slices)
Cayenne pepper to taste
Liquid smoke optional
French Baguette sliced for serving

Instructions

Place a large cast iron skillet over high heat and add the vegetable oil. Heat until the pan is very hot.
Add the beef (and liquid smoke if using) into a pan. Use tongs to turn the steak occasionally. When the beef is cooked about halfway, add the salt. Continue turning until it is browned on the outside.
Once the steak is browned, add the black pepper and beef bouillon (cube). Stir until the steak is coated completely. Add the mustard and mix again.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the beef to a separate plate leaving the juices in the pan. Set the plate aside.
Add the raw onions into the pan and saute. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until the onions begin to soften but haven’t softened all the way. The onions should still have a little bit of crunch to them.
When the onions are your desired consistency, add the beef back into the pan and saute just long enough to let it warm up again. Turn the heat off, and add the desired amount of cayenne pepper.
Serve with french bread and more mustard on the side. Enjoy!

Notes

Recipe from Dada's FoodCrave Kitchen

Oil: I used vegetable oil. You can also use canola or sunflower oil if preferred.

Meat: I used a sirloin steak.

Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, yellow mustard, cayenne pepper

Bouillon: Beef bouillon. You can use 1 bouillon cube or 1 tsp of jarred bouillon.

Onion: I used a sweet onion. Because we are not caramelizing the onion all the way, I preferred a sweet onion to a white onion.
Baguette: I like getting my baguettes from the bakery aisle of my grocery store.
Though this Steak and Onion recipe uses sirloin steak, I have also seen Afra or Dibi made with many other types of meat, including lamb, chicken, or bushmeat. Feel free to experiment with whatever meat you’d prefer. Keep in mind that steak does not need to be cooked all the way through, but chicken does.
You may also see this dish referred to as “Senegambian”. Because of The Gambia being bordered entirely by Senegal, most food/recipes are shared amongst both countries.
This recipe is conveniently low carb, Whole30 friendly, and keto! (All if served without the baguette)
If you prefer to make this recipe in the oven, you can place the meat and onion in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until cooked all the way through. At the end, put the oven on a broil and broil the meat to get some crispy edges!

Nutrition