Creative Freestyle Solutions

This comfort hearty and delicious Filipino Crockpot Beef Stew can be found in nearly every country’s cuisine, and the Philippines is no different. And, Beef Mechado recipe is one dish my boys often request, besides Pork Adobo. Mechado is the Philippine version of the ultimate comfort food with a wonderful depth of flavor that comes from a browned garlic, marinated, and the complex flavors of patis, or fish sauce.

Deliciously tender chunks of beef slowly simmered in a tomato sauce flavored with Asian seasonings. Your taste buds are treated to a savory, tangy and sweet explosion of flavors!

The Philippines was under Spanish rule for over 400 years and Filipinos had embraced the Spanish Culture and mostly their food. You will find many similarities with the Spanish and Filipino cuisine. Filipino is a fusion of Spanish and Asian Cuisine.

The similarity of Afritada, Mechado, and Kalderta are three too-similar Filipino dishes that confuse even Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Mechado has either pork or beef in tomato sauce, plus vinegar, soy sauce, carrots, and potatoes. It comes from the Spanish word ‘,’ which means to put oil.

Afritada —derived from the Spanish word ‘fritada’ meaning to fry —  features chicken in pure tomato sauce, and embellished by carrots, potatoes and bell pepper.

The key for a good beef recipe, and for any other meat recipes, is the quality of the meat. Another factor that is also related to quality is of the meat. I make sure that meat is tender and easy to chew. This will make the dish more delicious and enjoyable to eat. This can be done by simmering the meat until tender.

The sauces and seasonings are next on my list. While the meat can be our main source of flavor, sauces, and seasonings a big role in enhancing the flavor of a dish. That’s what I love best, these are easy recipes and simple to cook- simplicity is the key.

The Filipino Crockpot Beef Stew is one dish I learned to make and cook often, especially 4 growing boys, and with the help of my mother-in-law. There are many variations.

What is the difference between Afritada and Mechado?

Afritada usually uses chicken and Mechado usually uses beef. Classicially, afritada is known to be made of bone-in chicken pieces while a classic mechado is made of beef chunks. Both have versions that include the substitution of the beef or the chicken for pork.

How do you make Mechado chicken?

Recipe Cooking Procedure:

• In a fry pan over medium heat, saute garlic and onions, oil.
• Add chicken and stir-fry until its color change to slightly brown.
• Add water (just enough to cover the chicken), tomato sauce, soy sauce, laurel leaf, bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, and black pepperscorn, sea salt to taste.

Serve with steamed rice and Enjoy!

Filipino Crockpot Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck or beef shank, cubed
• 1-15oz. can of tomato sauce
• 3 cups of water or (3 cups of pork or beef boullion)
• 2 tablespoon Beef – Better Than Boullion 
• 5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 4 dried bay leaves
• 1/4 cup soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce (Tamari) or coconut aminos
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 2 large red potatoes, cubed
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded, sliced and cut into squares
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded, sliced and cut into squares
• 2 carrots, peeled, cut into small cubes
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon Patis or Fish sauce (optional)
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Swerve, granulated brown sugar
• 1 cup of frozen peas

Instructions:

1. Using a Crockpot: place beef on the bottom and then the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot. Set cooking time either High for 4 hours or low overnight for 6 hours.
2. Cooking on Stove Top: take a large pot. Turn on burner to medium-high. Place 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a pot with garlic, saute until brown.
3. Add onions, saute until translucent.
4. Place beef in the cook for an additional 5 minutes
5. Add rest of ingredients into the pot, turn the heat down to medium-low, cook with lid for 35 minutes. Stirring occasionally. 
6. Add frozen peas and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes. Stirring occasionally. 

Serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!

GREAT SOY SAUCE ALTERNATIVE – Coconut Secret Coconut aminos is a delicious sauce made from coconut sap. It is dark, rich, salty and slightly sweet in flavor. It resembles a light soy sauce or tamari (wheat-free soy sauce), but it is soy-free and gluten-free – making it the perfect replacement for those avoiding soy and gluten.

Notes:

Some individuals that are on a Paleo diet, the coconut aminos is an awesome replacement for recipes calling for soy sauce.

The beef is usually tough. If you have time, boil the beef at night and refrigerate the pot overnight so fat can harden. When ready to continue cooking remove the hardened fat with a kitchen utensil.

When the potato is peeled and cut, submerge it in water so it doesn’t turn light brown before cooking.

Leftover broth can be frozen to use later for any recipe that calls for beef broth.

My favorite ingredient to add to the beef stew is garbanzo beans. If there is no potato available I would add this. 

Often times my husband would request whole black olives in the stew.