Kaldereta at home

When people are asked about what Filipino foods they know of, the usual answers of Adobo, Lechon, Halo-Halo, Lumpia, and other similar foods are what are named. And it is true that these foods are beloved products of the Filipino kitchen, but I would argue that there is a dish that is just as beloved but perhaps not so well known and even divisive to the Filipino people. This dish is kaldereta, a tomato-based stew that traditionally is made with goat meat but is more commonly found nowadays to be made with beef. Kaldereta can be found anywhere, from your humble neighborhood carinderia to the frozen food section of a grocery or convenience store, to fine dining restaurants. It is just as commonly eaten at home as it is outside. Perhaps this is due to the number of ingredients that goes into it, comparatively more than what would be found in other tomato-based stews in the Philippines. The addition of liver paste and cheese for additional richness and to serve as thickening agents makes the end product a hearty stew that can even be enjoyed as a pulutan with a few drinks.

To enjoy kaldereta at home is relatively simple since the dish does not use hard to find ingredients or any specialized cooking methods. The base of the dish is a traditional Filipino sofrito to serve as a base layer of flavor to which root vegetables are added followed by meat. Now this dish is traditionally made with goat meat and there are many purists who would stand by the use of only goat meat but this is not too easy of a meat to find and many recipes online state that a lean cut of beef with plenty of connective tissue or litid is a goo substitute. The secret to a good kaldereta is not in the ingredients used but the way they are used. To have the best end result, the kaldereta needs to be cooked for a long time on a low heat, to allow the proteins in the meat to break down and become tender and infuse the sauce with its irresistible beefy flavor. The other ingredients such as chili peppers and olives do add interesting facets to the dish, but the bottom line is, if the meat isn’t good and prepared well, no number of additions can salvage the dish.

Malagos Homegrown Produce is an online grocery store that delivers within the Davao City area. They stock fresh produce and fresh frozen meats for any of your cooking cravings. A hot and hearty serving of beef kaldereta is only a click away using their online order form.