Filipino Pares (Beef Stew)
by Mary Grace (@greysdiane)A popular Filipino dish consisting of beef stew served with garlic fried rice and a hard-boiled egg.
Ingredients
For the Beef Stew
- 1kgbeef (chuck or brisket), cut into cubes
- 2tbspoil
- 1pieceonion, chopped
- 4clovegarlic, minced
- 2tbspsoy sauce
- 1tspfive-spice powder (optional)
- 5cupswater or beef broth
- 3piecepotatoes, cubed
- 3piececarrots, sliced
- 1piecebay leaf
- 1tbspsugar (optional, for sweetness)
For the Garlic Fried Rice
- 4cupscooked rice (preferably day-old)
- 4clovegarlic, minced
- 2tbspoil
- 1pinchsalt
- 1piecechopped green onions (for garnish)
For Serving
- 4piecehard-boiled eggs
- 1tbspadditional soy sauce (optional)
How to make Filipino Pares (Beef Stew)
Prepare the Beef Stew
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic until fragrant.
Add the beef cubes and brown on all sides.
Pour in soy sauce and stir well. Add the five-spice powder if using.
Add water or beef broth, bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours until beef is tender.
Add potatoes and carrots, and cook until vegetables are tender. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and sugar if desired.
Make the Garlic Fried Rice
In a separate pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until golden.
Add cooked rice, breaking up any clumps. Stir-fry until heated through and well combined with garlic. Season with salt and garnish with green onions.
Serve
Serve the beef stew hot with garlic fried rice and hard-boiled eggs on the side. Drizzle with additional soy sauce if desired.
Tips & Tricks
For best results, use day-old rice for the fried rice to prevent it from becoming mushy.
Adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar to suit your taste preference.