Bistec de palomilla (meaning "butterflied beefsteak") is a Cuban dish consisting of beef round or cubed steak[1] marinated in garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper then pan-fried.[2] It is usually served with black beans and yellow or white rice.[3]
In Spanish, palomillo means moth or butterfly, referring to the way that it is split in thickness to make two thin steaks of equal size. Because it is a tougher (but inexpensive) cut of meat, this makes it easier to chew, and more susceptible to being tenderized with a meat mallet, which is an essential part of the dish's preparation.