One dish you can always expect to be served during Filipino special occasions is the Beef Caldereta. This type of meat stew is particularly popular in the Luzon or Tagalog region of the country. Perhaps, this is the most popular and top-ranked spicy stew in the Philippines.
It has become so popular that it has many variations, with every household having their preference. If you are a lover of good food, then this beef caldereta will doubtless make your top list of favorite Filipino foods.
History of Kaldereta
Its history is not quite known, but it has been established that it has a Spanish origin since the word “kaldereta” is taken from a Spanish word, meaning cauldron. The cauldron in turn refers to a metal pot with a handle and lid used for open fire cooking.
It is originally made with goat meat, but there are other meats that can be used instead, like chicken, pork, and fish. However, for the purpose of this article, my emphasis is on using beef for good reasons.
Also, there are different versions and varieties of this recipe. For a creamy texture, some use coconut oil to the broth. For yet some others, they use raw tomatoes to replace the popular tomato sauce. For those looking for a thickened sauce, it’s peanut butter. For a cheesy outlook, cheese is added to the sauce.
For more sumptuousness, you can include fancy ingredients such as green peas, green olives, pickle relish, and garbanzos. Whatever your preference, one thing is for sure – you will end up with a great tasting stew.
Best Foods To Have With Your Caldereta
Beef Caldereta is one recipe considered a one-dish meal as it contains meat and vegetables in it. They are mostly served during special occasions and parties; even though in recent times, a lot of families now consume it as often as possible.
In consuming this spicy stew, there are certain foods that are best to have with it. One such food is rice. Rice in itself is one of Filipinos’ staple foods, commonly eaten with beef Caldereta. You can never go wrong with this creamy sauce poured on top of your nicely cooked rice.
Another Filipino dish you want to consider topping with your spicy Beef Caldereta stew is Lumpiang Shanghai. This dish is basically a wrapped mixture of ground vegetables with ground meat. The wrap fondly referred to as Lumpia wrapper is made from water and flour, or water, eggs, and cornstarch.
Beef Caldereta Gone Wrong? Here’s What to Do
Beef Caldereta is generally a nice and simple dish but nevertheless requires care in its preparation. There are a few problems you are likely to encounter.
Meat being Tough – The caldereta is supposed to be simmered until the meat gets tender, and there is the fact that it takes quite some time for the beef to cook. In that case to make it tender will need using a pressure cooker or boiling within pineapple. Whichever is the case, it is always worth waiting for.
Too much spiciness – The Caldereta is supposed to be spicy, and there’s also a tendency that it could get too spicy. It is recommended that you add something sweet-tasting or at the least will not get tasting too spicy. To achieve this, you can add peanut butter or pineapple tidbits for more sweetness.
Why Choose Beef Over Other Meats
Other than being very accessible compared to meats like goat, beef, like every other red meat, there are many benefits beef has over other variations of meat used for caldereta. Even though one would say that there is no significant difference between beef and any other meat used, the following nutritional values are worth the mention.
Protein: This is a macronutrient and helps to build the body’s muscle mass. Owing to the fact our body weight is made up of 15 percent protein, this nutrient must be quite important.
B vitamins: The importance of the role this group of nutrients plays in the body cannot be overemphasized. For one, it directly impacts on your cell metabolism, brain function, and energy levels.
Zinc: This is one of the minerals that go a long way to help the immune system fight against viruses and bacteria. It also helps facilitate the fast healing of wounds.
Iron: This is a mineral that helps to eliminate carbon dioxide. Iron is important for the body and a lack of it denies the body of making adequate healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
Beef Caldereta
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Canola oil
- 2 Large potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes
- 2 Large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 Onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 lbs Bottom round roast, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 2 cups Tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2 cups Water
- 5 Thai chili peppers, minced
- 1/2 cup Green olives, pitted
- 1/2 cup Liver spread
- 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Small green bell pepper, seeded, cored and cut into cubes
- 1 Small red bell pepper, seeded, cored and cut into cubes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a wide pan over medium heat, heat oil. Add potatoes and carrots and cook until lightly browned. Remove from pot and drain on paper towels.
- Remove oil from the pan except for about 2 tablespoons. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened.
- Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and chili peppers. Bring to a boil, skimming scum that may float on top.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Lower heat, cover, and cook for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender.
- Add potatoes, carrots, and continue to cook until tender.
- Add liver spread and cheese, stirring to combine until well-distributed. Continue to cook until cheese is melted and sauce is thickened.
- Add bell peppers and olives cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until tender yet crisp. Serve hot.
Video
Recipe source: https://www.kawalingpinoy.com/beef-caldereta/
Final Words On Beef Kaldereta Recipe
If you ever look forward to trying out any Filipino recipes and dishes, the beef caldereta is a good one you can begin with. For Filipinos outside of the country, it’s a great way to remember home.
One good thing I like about this recipe is that it is difficult to get it wrong even if you get to omit some of the ingredients. You can still expect to achieve a good dish as long as there’s tomato sauce to the beef in place.
Don’t be intimidated by the sweetness of the dish, thinking it should be difficult to prepare; it is rather simple. As long you follow the basic instructions, you’re sure to be on your way to making a great-tasting dish.
I hope this article was valuable. If you have questions about the beef caldereta dish? Please feel free to use the comment section to ask. Also, feel free to share your experience with beef caldereta, if any.
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