Jun
17
Filipino Recipes – Beef Mechado Recipe- Pinoy Food
By
This beef mechado recipe is one of my family’s favorites. Whenever I ask them what they want for dinner, they always answer in unison “Beef Mechado”! It is very easy to prepare and what you will have is a sumptuous meal. I always feel that my effort is not wasted every time I see satisfied smiles on their faces after dinner.
Ingredients:
- 1 kilo of beef cut into chunks
- 1/8 kilo of pork fat cut into strips
- 1 medium sized carrot, sliced in 1/2″ sections
- 5 medium potatoes, quartered (optional: fried)
- 4 onions, peeled and quartered
- 2 red bell pepper, sliced
- 3 bay leaves (laurel leaves)
- 2 cups beef stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in water
- 2 cups tomato sauce or 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 -cup vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Make a slit on the chunks of beef. In the middle of the cut, insert a strip of pork.
- Place the beef with the fat in a casserole. Then add the beef stock, soy sauce, tomato sauce and bay leaves. Place over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Allow to simmer until the beef becomes tender when tested with a fork.
- Pour in the vinegar and let boil for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the bell pepper, carrots, potatoes and onions.
- Simmer under low heat until the carrots and potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Stir occasionally in order to thicken the sauce.
- Best served with plain white rice while hot.
Tips:
- For faster cooking time, it is best to cook the beef with the beef stock using a pressure cooker.
- Before adding to the casserole, fry the potatoes first.
- For added flavor, you can add and stir in 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil.
