Venezuelan Pepito Sandwich (Pepito Venezolano)

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 07/16/21
bread in dish

Jacopo Werther/Wikimedia Commons/CC by 2.0
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
444 Calories
13g Fat
68g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 444
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1400mg 61%
Total Carbohydrate 68g 25%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 2mg 10%
Calcium 130mg 10%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 269mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The pepito is a Venezuelan street food favorite: a beef (or chicken) sandwich, drenched with sauces and condiments. The beef is seasoned with Worcestershire sauce (salsa negra) and garlic. The bread is a large soft hoagie-like roll, and the condiments typically include lettuce, tomato, and many sauces, such as guasacaca, an avocado relish, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc. The whole thing is topped off with crispy potato sticks.

When you buy a pepito from a street vendor, there are usually many sauces to choose from and you can customize your order. Watch a video of a pepito being assembled here.

Ingredients

  • 4 hoagie-type bread rolls

  • 2 (6-ounce) steaks

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Shredded vegetables (e.g., lettuce, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes), optional

  • Guasacaca, for garnish

  • Mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, for optional garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Cut the beef into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper.

  3. Heat a heavy skillet with 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil, and sauté the beef over high heat until just browned. Add the garlic, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, or until the desired doneness. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  4. Split sandwich rolls lengthwise.

  5. Place shredded lettuce and tomato in rolls.

  6. Divide beef among the four rolls, placing it on top of the lettuce. Drizzle with guasacaca and any other desired sauce, and top with potato sticks.

  7. Serve and enjoy!