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.