Kare Kare (Filipino Peanut Oxtail Stew)
Kare Kare is a rich and hearty peanut stew made with fork-tender oxtails and blanched vegetables. This recipe was based off of my dad's version of Kare Kare, which has proven to be a hit at potlucks every single time.
- Prep time
- 14 min
- Cook time
- 31 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- ~1 kg oxtail 1
- Salt and pepper, to season oxtails
- 2 tbsp oil, for searing
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3.5 cups water, for simmering
- 1/2 beef bouillon cube
- Bok choy, leaves separated
- Green beans, cut into 4u0022 long pieces
- Eggplant, cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp dark roasted peanut butter (unsweetened) 2
- 3 tbsp ground toasted rice powder 3
- 1.5 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp bagoong (Filipino shrimp paste) 4
- 1/2 tbsp annatto powder
- 2 tsp fish sauce 5
- Toasted peanuts, crushed
Instructions
- 1
Season your oxtails with salt and pepper. Sear these in a pot with the 2 tbsp of oil over medium-high heat until browned all over, then set aside.
- 2
In the same pot, sauté the onions until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add in the garlic and continue to sauté until golden brown and fragrant. Add back in the seared oxtails, pour in the water, and the beef bouillon cube.
- 3
Bring this to a boil, skimming off any scum that float to the surface. Cover, and let simmer on medium-low until the oxtails are fork tender, about 2-3 hours 6.
- 4
In the meantime, prepare your vegetables. Boil water in a pot, and briefly blanch your bok choy and green beans for about 1-2 minutes until bright green. Strain, and immediately plunge them in cold ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain, and set aside. For the eggplants, fry in a lightly oiled pan over medium heat until lightly charred on all sides, set aside.
- 5
Prepare the Kare Kare sauce by combining all the ingredients together in a bowl. Add a few ladles of the hot simmering liquid from the oxtails to help loosen the mixture into a thin liquid. Set aside until ready for use.
- 6
Once the oxtails are fork-tender, pour in the prepared Kare Kare sauce into the pot. Stir to combine, then let simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes to allow the stew to thicken slightly.
- 7
To serve, lay the vegetables on top of the stew. Sprinkle a generous amount of crushed peanuts, if desired. Serve immediately with rice and a side of bagoong 7, enjoy!