Kaldereta

Kaldereta, a popular Filipino food recipe, is usually prepared during birthdays, get-togethers, and fiestas. Eating the dish just feels so festive, which was originated by the Spaniards during their occupation on the Philippines and has then become one of the favorite dishes by the Filipinos and has then evolved with their own version by fusing in the local taste of the people. It was originally made with goat meat but Filipinos now usually use beef in making their kaldereta. The meat is then covered with rich and thick tomato sauce and liver spread, and you can make it sweet or spicy if you want. Try making kaldereta as it is just an easy dish to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo beef, cut into chunks
• 1 can (350 g) liver spread or ground liver
• 5 onions, minced
• 6 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 3 green peppers, diced
• 3 red peppers, diced
• 4 hot chili peppers, minced
• ¾ cup grated cheese
• 2 cups beef stock or water
• ¼ cup cooking or olive oil

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic and onions in oil in a pot.
2. Add tomatoes, red and green peppers, and chili peppers.
3. Add then the beef, tomato sauce, liver spread, and beef stock or water.
4. Add salt to taste.
5. Let it simmer for about an hour or until the beef is tender.
6. Add cheese and let it simmer again until the sauce gets thickened.
7. Serve hot with plain rice.

Beef Mechado

One of the most popular dishes that Filipinos love to prepare is beef mechado. The dish is usually served during fiestas and other special occasions. The Filipino food recipe for the dish is a little bit similar to other tomato based dishes like kaldereta, estofado, and afritada, but certain ingredients and preparations for the dish make it distinct from the said dishes. The recipe was influenced by the Spanish and it came from the Spanish word mecha which means wick. But in this recipe, beef is used and is marinated first on calamansi juice and soy sauce.

Ingredients:
• I kilo beef, cut into chunks
• 1/8 kilo pork fat, cut into strips
• 4 onions, minced
• 5 medium potatoes, cut
• 1 medium-sized carrots, sliced into ½” pieces
• 2 red bell peppers, sliced
• 2 cups beef stock
• 3 bay leaves
• ¼ cup vinegar
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.  Cut an incision on the beef and insert a pork strip in the middle of each chunk.
2.  Then combine the beef, tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, and beef stock inside a pot or casserole. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer until the beef gets tender.
3.  Pour the vinegar and let it boil for a few more minutes.
4.  Add the potatoes, carrots, onions, and bell peppers.
5.  Let it sit in the heat until the potatoes and carrots get tender without overcooking them and the sauce thickens.
6.  Serve hot with rice.