KARE KARE WITH SPECIAL BAGOONG

Kare-kare is a popular stew in Philippines that is served on special occasions like Feast Days (fiesta), Birthdays and family gatherings. The dish’s defining ingredient is its peanut sauce which is made out of peanut butter, ground toasted rice and annatto seed extract this is then cooked with variety of local vegetables and meat (usually ox tail or ox tripe). It’s a bit pale in taste compared to other rich Philippine dishes that’s why it is often always accompanied with a salty shrimp paste called bagoong.
This dish probably had originated from Pampanga  as it is really popular there and every household in the said province offer this as their specialty and have their own better versions that stand out among the others but there are also some suggestions that it originated from the Southern island of Mindanao where this dish is popular as well, it was said that this is one of the regal dishes of the Moro elite who settled in Manila even before the Spanish arrival.

Another suggestion says that it has a Japanese influence as the name “Kare-Kare” is derived from the Japanese word “Kare” which is a Japanese word for curry.   So where this dish did really came from? Well I don’t really know but most experts say it was from Pampanga also called the culinary capital of the Philippines. I guess this is not for everyone due a lot of people has allergies over nuts and if you don’t have one you might freak out with the part of beef used.  But if you are adventurous in food, this is a must try especially for those who loves peanut butter, you will feel good about this dish.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs oxtail (cut in 2 inch slices) you an also use tripe or beef slices
• 1 small banana flower bud (sliced)
• 1 bundle of pechay or bok choy
• 1 bundle of string beans (cut into 2 inch slices)
• 4 pcs eggplants (sliced)
• 1 cup ground peanuts
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup shrimp paste
• 34 Ounces water (about 1 Liter)
• 1/2 cup annatto seeds (soaked in a cup of water)
• 1/2 cup toasted ground rice
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• salt and pepper

Cooking Procedure

1. In a large pot, bring the water to a boil
2. Put in the oxtail followed by the onions and simmer for 2.5 to 3 hrs or until tender (35 minutes if using a pressure cooker)
3. Once the meat is tender, add the ground peanuts, peanut butter, and coloring (water from the annatto seed mixture) and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes
4. Add the toasted ground rice and simmer for 5 minutes
5. On a separate pan, saute the garlic then add the banana flower, eggplant, and string beans and cook for 5 minutes
6. Transfer the cooked vegetables to the large pot (where the rest of the ingredients are)
7. Add salt and pepper to taste
8. Serve hot with shrimp paste. Enjoy!