Authentic Filipino-Style Beef Pares Recipe (Very Tender)

What is Beef Pares?

Beef Pares is a well-known street food dish in the Philippines that came from Metro Manila. It is composed of soft beef stewed in a seasoned sauce and usually served with garlic fried rice and a clear beef broth on the side. The term “pares” means “pair” in English, indicating the perfect pairing of the beef stew with the rice and broth.

Pares usually include braised beef cooked until tender and flavoured with soy sauce, sugar, star anise, ginger, and other spices. The resulting stew has a savoury-sweet taste with a slight hint of spiciness, and is commonly garnished with sliced green onions to add freshness.

Garlic-fried rice is a typical accompaniment to Filipino beef pares. The rice is cooked with minced garlic and sometimes diced onions to enhance its flavour. The delicious and savoury beef stew, when combined with the aromatic garlic-fried rice, makes a filling and satisfying meal.

The clear beef broth that comes with beef pares is usually served in a separate bowl. It is clear and can be used either as a soup or a dipping sauce for the beef. To make it, beef bones and meat are simmered with onions, garlic, and spices until a delicious broth is achieved.

In the Philippines, beef pares is a widely loved comfort food that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Typically served at local eateries or small roadside food stalls called carinderias, this dish is known for its delicious flavour and satisfying portion size.

How to Make Beef Pares

Ingredients:

For the beef stew:

  • 1 ½  pounds beef brisket, cut into cubes
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup oyster sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, minced
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 star anise
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon red chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
  • Salt to taste

For the garlic fried rice:

  • 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • Salt to taste

For the clear beef broth:

  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • Salt to taste

For garnish:

  • Sliced green onions

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and star anise; sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the beef cubes and sear on all sides until they are lightly browned.
  3. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, black pepper, and beef broth to the pot. Stir well to combine them.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened.
  5. You can adjust the spiciness level of the dish by adding red chilli flakes and salt to taste. Let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes after adding them.
  6. While the beef stew is simmering, prepare the garlic fried rice. In a separate pan, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, and sauté them until fragrant.
  7. Stir-fry the cooked jasmine rice in the pan for 3-5 minutes until it is heated through and slightly crispy. Add salt to taste.
  8. To make a clear beef broth, follow these steps: heat up the beef broth in a separate pot, then add minced garlic, sliced onion, and salt to taste. Allow it to simmer for 10-15 minutes to enhance the flavours.
  9. After the beef stew is fully cooked, take out the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
  10. To serve, place a scoop of garlic-fried rice in a bowl or on a plate. Ladle the spicy beef stew over the rice, and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve the clear beef broth on the side.
  11. Enjoy the delicious and spicy Filipino beef pares with your family! You can also serve it with steamed vegetables or a fried egg on top for added variety.

Note: You can adjust the spiciness of the beef stew by adding more or less red chilli flakes according to your preference. If you prefer a milder flavour, you can reduce the amount of chilli flakes or omit them altogether.

Final Thoughts

Beef pares is a classic Filipino dish that will never fail to please everyone in the family. It’s flavourful and hearty, and is perfect for any meal or occasion. With this recipe, you can make an authentic Filipino-style beef pares dish that your whole family will love! 

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