Mechadong baka is beef stew in tomato sauce, potatoes and carrots. A Filipino dish very similar to kalderatang baka and I always can’t tell the difference between the two when I see these dishes. They both have tomato sauce and potatoes but I always forget that carrot is not included in kaldereta.
This mechado beef recipe version is not the conventional way, which is cooking the raw beef in the pot with the tomato sauce and spices until the meat is tender, this one, you have to stir fry the beef first which I bet enhances the flavor of the dish.
How To Cook Mechadong Baka (Beef Mechado)
Ingredients
- 1 kilo beef cut into bite size pieces
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 pcs potatoes cut into quarters
- 1 carrot cut into cubes
- 2 tsp. lemon juice o calamansi juice
- 2 tsp. soy sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 pc bay leaves or laurel leaves
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 2 cups water
- cooking oil
Instructions
How to Cook Mechadong Baka:
- When buying the beef, choose the meat with a little tendon. Cut the beef into bite size pieces.
- On a heavy skillet heat oil and stir fry the beef for a few minutes until it turns light brown. Set aside.
- On the skillet where you fry the beef, remove excess oil and retain at least 1 tablespoon.
- Saute garlic and onion until cooked and add the water, lemon juice or calamansi juice, soy sauce, pepper, tomato sauce, laurel leaves, salt and the beef.
- Simmer in low fire until the meat is tender. Then add the potatoes and carrots.
- Simmer for a few minutes until the potatoes and carrots are cooked.
- Tip: it is better to simmer the beef in low fire so the meat will release it's flavor.
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The recipe is easy to follow. Finished product tastes good.
Hi Belen, thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hope u also watch our youtube videos!
It’s really easy and fast to cook n very good flavor mechado thank u
Hi Arlyn, you are welcome! Cheers!
This is awesome, my mom and I both have no idea on how to cook dishes like this. Thanks for sharing this to us!
I truly appreciate your collection of recipe. They are easy to follow and the ingredients can be found in any grocery store. I’ve tried several of your recipe, the most recent one of which is the beef mechado and my husband just loves the finished product. Thanks!
Hi Delia Mandap, Thanks for your comment and I’m glad that this site has helped you in cooking your favorite dishes.