Kare-kare
Ingredients
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- 3 pounds oxtail – cut into 2–3 inch pieces
- 12 cups water
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt – plus more to taste
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 2 tbsp annatto seeds
- 1 large onion – thinly sliced
- 6 cloves garlic – minced
- 3 tbsp white rice – toasted and finely ground
- 1 cup ground roasted unsalted peanuts
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter – stirred
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 medium Asian eggplant – cut into 1 inch thick pieces on the bias
- 8 ounces yardlong beans (sitaw) – cut into 2 inch lengths
- 1 bunch bok choy (pechay) – halved lengthwise
- bagoong alamang (fermented shrimp paste) – for serving
Instructions
1. Combine the oxtail and water in a large pot, bring to a boil over high heat, skim foam, then reduce to a gentle simmer, partially cover, and cook until the meat is very tender and nearly falling off the bone, 2–2.5 hours; measure out 6 cups of the cooking broth and keep hot.
2. Make the color base: In a large Dutch oven, warm the neutral oil and annatto seeds over low heat until the oil turns deep red-orange, 3–5 minutes; strain and discard the seeds, leaving the annatto oil in the pot.
3. Add the onion and garlic to the annatto oil and cook over medium heat until soft and sweet without browning, 4–6 minutes.
4. Build and thicken the sauce: In a dry skillet, toast the white rice over medium heat, stirring constantly, until deep golden and nutty, 5–7 minutes; cool briefly and grind to a fine powder. In a food processor, grind the roasted unsalted peanuts to a fine meal. Whisk the ground peanuts and natural peanut butter into the pot with the aromatics, then slowly pour in 4 cups hot reserved cooking broth, whisking until smooth. Sprinkle in the toasted rice powder while whisking and simmer until glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon, 6–8 minutes.
5. Add the cooked meat and, if needed, 1 more cup hot reserved broth to loosen; simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce clings nicely, 10–15 minutes.
6. Blanch the vegetables: In a saucepan, bring 1 cup hot reserved broth to a bare simmer. Add the yardlong beans and cook until crisp-tender, 2–3 minutes; lift out. Add the Asian eggplant and cook until just tender, 3–4 minutes; lift out. Add the bok choy and cook until bright and tender, 1–2 minutes; drain well. Fold the vegetables into the stew just before serving and season the sauce with the fish sauce and the kosher salt (start with 1.5 tsp), adjusting to a savory but mellow finish.
7. Ladle into a serving dish and present with the bagoong alamang on the side.
Kare-Kare is a beloved Filipino peanut stew known for its rich, nutty sauce and silky texture, often enveloping tender, slow-cooked cuts like oxtail. The sauce is traditionally thickened with a blend of ground roasted peanuts and finely ground toasted rice, giving it body without heaviness. Annatto lends a warm, brick-red hue, while blanched vegetables—typically eggplant, yardlong beans, and bok choy—stay crisp-tender to balance the stew’s luxurious mouthfeel. The flavor is intentionally gentle and savory rather than salty, because it is always served with bagoong alamang (fermented shrimp paste) on the side for customized seasoning. Eaten with plenty of rice, it is a comforting centerpiece for family gatherings and celebrations.
Kare-Kare holds a special place in Filipino culinary heritage, with roots often associated with Pampanga and links to historic influences that include precolonial cooking and possible connections to South Asian soldiers once stationed in the Philippines. Despite the name’s resemblance to “curry,” Kare-Kare contains no curry spices and stands apart for its use of peanuts and toasted rice as thickeners. Over time it became a quintessential fiesta dish, showcasing resourceful use of collagen-rich cuts and communal dining. Today, its essential elements—slow-cooked meat, annatto-tinted peanut sauce, bright vegetables, and bagoong on the side—remain widely recognized and cherished across the archipelago.