How to Cook the Best Kare-Kare (Filipino Beef Oxtail Stew in Savory Peanut Sauce)

Step 1

Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch the oxtail and beef chunks plus the tripe until they change color and the scum rises to the top for roughly 5 minutes. Remove the beef parts, rinse quickly in cold water then set aside to drain. This is done to remove impurities from the meat. (The photos show cuts of stewing beef and tripe only because oxtail was no longer available in the market when we made this; you have the option of cooking Kare Kare with or without the oxtail).

Step 2

Heat oil on medium heat in a deep pan. Sauté the garlic and shallots until aromatic.

Step 3

Add the meat and tripe. Stir then cover. Allow the meat to sweat or render its fat for about 5-10 minutes. Check the meat halfway through.

Step 4

Pour enough boiling water to cover the meat.

Step 5

Add the fish sauce and freshly ground pepper to season the beef and broth. You can also add 2 Knorr beef cubes or beef bouillon to the water for extra flavor (especially if you don't use or don't have fish sauce).

Step 6

Cook until beef is tender about 1-1 1/2 hours. A pressure cooker may be used to shorten the time of tenderizing the beef.

Step 7

In the meantime, extract the color from the anatto seeds by immersing them in boiling water. Stir. Strain the seeds and set aside the red-colored liquid.

Step 8

Once meat is tender, add the banana flowers and the peanut butter. Stir to ensure the peanut butter melts into the sauce.

Step 9

Add the rest of the vegetables.

Step 10

Add the red liquid from the annatto seeds. Add just enough liquid to turn the sauce into a deep yellow or mustardy color.

Step 11

Continue to cook just until the vegetables are tender but not mushy. Season lightly to taste, if desired. (Don’t make it too salty because it will be served with a salty condiment on the side).

Step 12

Quickly blanch the bok choy in boiling water to allow it to wilt.

Step 13

Transfer the stew to a serving bowl then add the blanched bok choy on top. Serve on the side with shrimp paste or bagoong alamang.