Filipino Beef Caldereta

Instructions

1. Prepare the beef
   Season beef chunks with salt and pepper. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches until all sides are seared, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove beef and set aside.
2. Build the flavor base
   In the same pot, sauté onions until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, allowing it to caramelize slightly.
3. Simmer the stew
   Return beef to the pot. Add tomato sauce and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Add vegetables
   Add potatoes and carrots to the pot. Continue simmering for 15 minutes. Then add red and green bell peppers and simmer for another 10 minutes until vegetables are tender but not mushy.
5. Enrich the sauce
   Stir in liver spread until completely dissolved into the sauce. This will thicken the stew and give it a rich, distinctive flavor characteristic of authentic caldereta.
6. Final seasoning
   Add green olives, fish sauce, and ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
7. Rest and serve
   Remove from heat and let rest for 15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to develop further and the sauce to thicken slightly. Serve hot with steamed white rice.