mainFilipino

Kare-Kare

Name: Kare-Kare
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 210 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Filipino
Ingredients: 1.5 kg Oxtail (in pieces); 250 g Peanut butter (unsweetened); 60 g Rice (to toast and grind); 2 tbsp Annatto seeds; 2 pieces Onions; 6 cloves Garlic; 2 pieces Aubergines; 200 g Yard-long beans; 300 g Bok choy; 200 g Banana blossom (optional); 150 g Bagoong shrimp paste (to serve); 60 ml Vegetable oil; 400 g Rice (to serve)

Kare-Kare is a classic Filipino main that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.

Carefully prepared featuring Oxtail (in pieces), Peanut butter (unsweetened), Rice (to toast and grind), Annatto seeds, Onions, Garlic, Aubergines, Yard-long beans, Bok choy, Banana blossom (optional), Bagoong shrimp paste (to serve) and Rice (to serve), the ingredients are simmered and seasoned to achieve a satisfying depth of flavor. The cooking process allows natural aromas to develop, ensuring each portion is both hearty and flavorful.

Serve hot alongside fresh bread, steamed grains, or a crisp seasonal salad for a well-rounded dining experience.

If you enjoy authentic Filipino cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Chicken Adobo.

Difficulty: mediumPrep: 30 minCook: 210 minServes 6

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Ingredients

Oxtail (in pieces)1.5 kg
Peanut butter (unsweetened)250 g
Rice (to toast and grind)60 g
Annatto seeds2 tbsp
Onions2 pieces
Garlic6 cloves
Aubergines2 pieces
Yard-long beans200 g
Bok choy300 g
Banana blossom (optional)200 g
Bagoong shrimp paste (to serve)150 g
Vegetable oil60 ml
Rice (to serve)400 g

Step-by-Step Instructions

7 steps

Interactive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.

Step 1🍲 Simmer

Simmer the oxtail in water for three hours on a low heat, skimming. Keep the broth.

Step 2

Toast the rice in a dry pan until brown and grind it to a fine powder.

Step 3

Warm the annatto seeds in oil for three minutes and strain it; the coloured oil is where the dish gets its colour.

Step 4🍳 Fry

Fry the onion and garlic in the annatto oil, add the peanut butter and let it down with broth.

Step 5🥄 Mix

Stir in the rice powder and cook the sauce fifteen minutes, stirring, to the body of soured cream.

Step 6

Return the oxtail to the sauce and warm it ten minutes so the meat takes it up.

Step 7✨ Serve

Blanch the vegetables separately until just tender, lay them over the meat and serve with rice and bagoong.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes

Cultural Heritage

Kare-Kare carries a rich culinary tradition rooted in regional home cooking. Developed over generations, the recipe highlights wholesome local ingredients prepared with time-honored kitchen techniques.

Dietary Substitutions

For a richer sauce, replace a portion of the water with homemade bone broth, vegetable stock, or a splash of dry wine or red wine vinegar to cut through richness.

Chef Technique Tips

Take the time to thoroughly sear and brown oxtail (in pieces) in batches before adding the braising liquid. The caramelized fond deposited on the bottom of the pot dissolves into the stew, providing depth and body that cannot be rushed.

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