Cookbook:Kare-Kare (Oxtail and Vegetables in Peanut Sauce)

| Cuisine of the Philippines

Kare-kare is a Philippine stew derived from curry with a savory peanut sauce.

Ingredients

 * 1 pack (1.5–2 lb) oxtail
 * 6 cups water
 * ½ cup annatto seeds for coloring
 * 3 eggplants
 * 1 lb string beans
 * 1 banana blossom
 * 1 head garlic, chopped
 * 1 onion, sliced
 * ¼ cup cooking oil
 * 1 cup ground peanuts
 * 1 cup toasted ground rice

Procedure

 * 1) Boil the oxtail in water until tender.
 * 2) Soak annatto seeds in ½ cup water, set aside. Rub the seeds if necessary to bring out color.
 * 3) Cut string beans in 3-inch lengths.
 * 4) Cut eggplants diagonally, ½-inch thick.
 * 5) Cut banana blossoms diagonally, ½-inch thick.
 * 6) Parboil string beans, eggplants and banana blossoms, then set aside.
 * 7) Sauté garlic and onions in cooking oil.
 * 8) Take out the annatto seeds, add the water, and boil for 5 minutes.
 * 9) Stir in ground peanuts and ground rice.
 * 10) Bring to a boil, then add the oxtail and vegetables.
 * 11) Add more water if needed to have enough sauce; it should be thick and not watery. Add fish sauce to taste.
 * 12) Serve with steamed rice and shrimp paste (bagoong) on the side.