You can make the best authentic Kare-Kare, a classic Filipino beef oxtail stew infused with a savory peanut sauce, using our tried and tested recipe with simple-to-follow step-by-step instructions! The recipe ensures a flavorful stew that you’ll want to cook over and over again!

Woohoo! I’m so proud of this recipe!!! I have been wanting for the longest time to share a recipe for homemade Filipino Kare Kare! Today, I’m sharing with you dear readers the secrets of cooking a delicious and authentic Kare Kare recipe. With our step-by-step photo instructions, I’ll walk you through the process of creating this hearty traditional Filipino beef stew with rich peanut sauce, allowing you to bring a taste of the Philippines into your own home.

What is Kare Kare?

Kare Kare is a traditional Filipino stew characterized by its rich and creamy peanut sauce. It typically features oxtail, large beef chunks, and tripe with a variety of vegetables such as banana blossoms, long beans, eggplant, and bok choy – as the usual ingredients for Kare Kare.

The dish is often served with a side of shrimp paste or bagoong alamang for added depth of flavor. Kare Kare is a beloved dish in Filipino cuisine, known for its hearty and comforting qualities, making it a favorite among both locals and food enthusiasts worldwide.

While Kare-Kare with oxtail is the traditional version of this classic Filipino stew you can use other meats like pork or chicken or simply use regular beef stew cuts. In fact, when we made this recently we couldn’t find oxtail so we used just large chunks of stewing beef and tripe. In this post, we will not only provide you with a tutorial but also cooking tips and secrets to making the most flavorful kare kare!

Why Kare Kare?

Kare Kare is more than just a dish; it’s a culinary experience that encapsulates the essence of Filipino cuisine. Made with tender beef, a medley of vegetables, and a luscious peanut sauce, Kare Kare embodies the perfect balance of savory, nutty, and aromatic flavors. It is something that’s often served in many Filipino restaurants and a favorite dish for special occasions.

Why You Would Love This Authentic Kare Kare Recipe

You would love this Kare Kare recipe because it offers a perfect balance of savory flavors, creamy texture, and wholesome ingredients. The tender beef, aromatic vegetables, and luscious peanut sauce come together to create a deeply satisfying and comforting dish that showcases the richness of Filipino cuisine. Kare Kare will not only delight your taste buds but leave you craving for more, more rice especially as that’s the perfect pair for hearty Kare Kare.

Ingredients

1 whole garlic, peeled and sliced
3 shallots, peeled and sliced
2.2 lbs (1 kilo) beef oxtail or chuck roast cut into large chunks (use the latter if you prefer to use just plain beef meat)
1 pound (1/2 kilo) tripe
2 tablespoons fish sauce, or to taste (see recipe instructions for possible substitution)
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 pieces banana blossoms (or flowers), use only the white part (if using)
7 pieces yard-long beans (or Chinese long beans)
2 Japanese Eggplant, sliced
1 bunch Pechay or Bok Choy (about 6 pieces or as needed), tough ends removed
1 cup Peanut butter, or more as needed (adjust according to taste)
2 tablespoons Achiote or Annatto seeds, immersed in 1 cup boiling water to extract color, use just enough liquid to achieve mustard or deep yellow color for the sauce

Instructions

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 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 made this).

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

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. Pour enough boiling water to cover the meat. 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 have fish sauce). 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.

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.

Once the meat is tender, add the banana flowers or banana blossoms and the peanut butter. Stir to ensure the peanut butter melts into the sauce. Add the rest of the vegetables.

Add the red liquid from the annatto seeds. Add just enough liquid to turn the sauce into a deep yellow or mustardy color. Continue to cook just until the vegetables are tender but not mushy. Taste and season lightly, if desired or needed. (Don’t make it too salty because it will be served with a salty condiment on the side).

Quickly blanch the bok choy in boiling water to allow it to wilt. 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. Drizzle the sauce over rice!

NOTE: If the sauce is not thick enough to your liking simply you may thicken it with a little cornstarch diluted with water.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I substitute the oxtail and beef with other proteins? Yes, certainly. While beef is traditionally used in Kare Kare, you can experiment with other proteins such as pork or chicken for a unique twist on this classic dish.

Is it necessary to include tripe in Kare Kare? Tripe adds a distinct texture and flavor to Kare Kare, but it’s optional. Feel free to omit it if you prefer a simpler version of the dish.

How can I make the sauce thicker? If the sauce isn’t thick enough to your liking, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Simply mix cornstarch with water until smooth, then gradually add it to the simmering sauce until the desired consistency is reached.

To make the best Kare Kare, consider these Tips and Tricks:

Ensure the beef is tenderized properly by blanching and simmering until it reaches a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Build a flavorful broth by infusing it with aromatics like garlic and shallots, as well as using fish sauce and/or beef bouillon for depth of flavor. This way the beef as it cooks gets infused with these flavors.
Adjust the amount of peanut butter to achieve the desired level of creaminess and nuttiness in the sauce, keeping in mind personal preferences.
Use annatto seeds to impart a vibrant yellow color to the sauce, adding visual appeal to the dish.
Cook the vegetables just until tender but still slightly crisp to maintain their texture and vibrant color.
Finish the dish with a garnish of blanched bok choy and serve with shrimp paste or bagoong alamang on the side for a flavor explosion in the mouth!

By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to create a delicious and authentic Kare Kare that will impress your guests and satisfy your cravings. Enjoy!

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