Filipino Beef Mechado Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 kilo of beef cut into chunks
• 1/8 - 1/4 kilo of pork fat cut into strips
• 4 onions, peeled and quartered
• 5 medium potatoes, quartered (optional: fried)
• 1 medium sized carrot, sliced in 1/2" sections
• 2 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 cups beef stock or 2 bouillon beef cubes dissolved in water
• 3 bay leaves (laurel leaves)
• 1/4 cup vinegar or calamansi juice
• 2 cups tomato sauce and 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup soy sauce
• salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. Cut a slice on the beef chunks and insert a pork strip in the middle (mitsa)
2. In a casserole or sauce pan, combine the beef (with the pork strips in it),tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until the beef is almost tender
3. Add the vinegar or calamansi juice and let boil for a minute
4. Add the potatoes, onions, carrots, and bell pepper
5. Let simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked, stir occasionally to thicken sauce

Source: Lahat Sarap