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Simple Beef Mechado Recipe: A Filipino Favorite
Beef Mechado is a beloved dish in Filipino cuisine, known for its tender chunks of beef simmered in a rich, savory tomato-based sauce. It’s a comfort food that is often served during special occasions, family gatherings, or even just as a delicious weekday meal. Despite its popularity, Beef Mechado is surprisingly simple to prepare. With a few basic ingredients, you can easily recreate this classic Filipino dish in your own kitchen.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to prepare a mouth-watering Simple Beef Mechado that everyone will love. Let’s dive into this flavorful and satisfying recipe!
What is Beef Mechado?
Beef Mechado is a Filipino stew that features beef, typically cuts like brisket or chuck, simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce. The dish is often distinguished by its use of soy sauce, vinegar, and the signature addition of “mechado” which refers to the larding of beef with strips of pork fat. This step adds moisture and richness to the meat as it cooks, resulting in tender, melt-in-your-mouth chunks of beef.
While the larding step is an important element in traditional Beef Mechado, this simplified version of the recipe skips that process and focuses on easy, accessible ingredients that still deliver that same satisfying, savory taste. With just a few adjustments, you can enjoy a quick, simple, and tasty version of this Filipino favorite.
Ingredients for Simple Beef Mechado
To make your own delicious Beef Mechado at home, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the Beef Stew:
- 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat (preferably chuck, brisket, or sirloin tips) – These cuts are perfect for slow cooking and will become tender as they simmer in the sauce.
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce – This adds a deep umami flavor to the stew and helps tenderize the beef.
- 1 medium onion, chopped – Onions bring a savory, slightly sweet flavor to the dish.
- 4 cloves garlic, minced – Garlic is essential for infusing flavor into the dish.
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped – Tomatoes create the base for the rich sauce.
- 1 medium-sized carrot, sliced – Carrots add a bit of sweetness and color to the stew.
- 1 large potato, peeled and sliced into rounds – Potatoes soak up the flavors of the sauce and add heartiness to the dish.
- 1 bay leaf – Bay leaves enhance the overall flavor with their subtle, earthy notes.
- 2 cups beef broth or water – To help cook the beef and create the stew base.
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil – For sautéing the ingredients.
- Salt and pepper, to taste – For seasoning the dish.
Optional Garnishes and Add-ins:
- Green bell pepper (sliced) – Adds extra flavor and color to the stew.
- Pork fat or bacon (optional) – If you want to bring in a richer, traditional flavor, you can add a small amount of pork fat or bacon strips.
- Fish sauce (optional) – Some people like to add a dash of fish sauce for extra depth in flavor.
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