Filipino Food: Kare-Kare

So good. So good.

A favorite dish and mainstay in the Filipino Culinary repertoire, Kare-Kare, a peanut based stew traditionally made with ox tail and local vegetables. Long beans, egg plant, and bok choi are used in this comfort food. In my view, this dish is as ubiquitous at my family gatherings as leche flan, egg rolls, or pancit canton. My take uses beef short ribs and instead of just boiling everything together or using a pressure cooker, I first brown the meat and then braise it. I find that it this helps elevate the flavors and makes for a deeper, more complex, finer final product without the need to use the packaged Kare-Kare mix that most people use. I mean really, give me a break, right?