Go Back
Print
Recipe Image
–
+
servings
Smaller
Normal
Larger
Print
Beef Pares
A meal that hails from the Philippines, pares (pah-res), literally “pair”, means a combination of rice and protein, usually very tender stewed beef. Brisket, short ribs, flank or shanks are ideal for making beef pares.
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Filipino
Prep Time
10
minutes
minutes
Cook Time
2
hours
hours
30
minutes
minutes
Total Time
2
hours
hours
40
minutes
minutes
Servings
4
people
Author
Connie Veneracion
Ingredients
Broth
1
kilogram
beef short ribs
cut between the bones
1
tablespoon
cooking oil
½
onion
4
cloves
garlic
1
slice
ginger
1
teaspoon
peppercorns
2
bay leaves
patis
(fish sauce)
to taste
Sweet-salty sauce
2
cups
beef broth
2
tablespoons
soy sauce
2
tablespoons
sugar
1
slice
ginger
2
cloves
garlic
2
star anise
2
teaspoons
corn starch
To serve the beef pares
cooked rice
fried garlic
fried shallots
sliced scallions
cilantro
Instructions
Cook the beef / make broth
Rinse the beef and wipe dry with a kitchen towel.
Heat a thick-bottomed pan and coat the the bottom with a tablespoon of cooking oil.
Brown the beef on all sides.
Pour in eight cups of water.
Add the onion, garlic, peppercorns, ginger, bay leaves and two tablespoons
patis
.
Bring to the boil, cover the pan and simmer for about two hours or until the beef easily separates from the bones.
Scoop out the beef and set aside.
Strain the broth.
Reserve two cups of broth, pour the remaining broth into a clean pan and set over low heat. Taste and add more
patis
, if needed. Keep the broth hot.
Make the sweet-salty sauce
Pour the reserved broth into a pan.
Add the soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic and star anise.
Add the beef to the sauce and simmer, turning the beef over occasionally, for about 15 minutes.
Mix the starch with two tablespoons of water and a teaspoon of soy sauce.
Pour the starch solution into the pan with the beef, and stir until thickened and no longer cloudy.
Taste the sauce and add more soy sauce, sugar or both, depending on what your taste buds dictate.
Assemble your beef pares
Ladle cooked rice on plates or shallow bowls.
Arrange pieces of beef on top of the rice.
Drizzle sauce over the beef.
Garnish with fried garlic, fried shallots, scallions and cilantro.
Serve your beef pares with hot broth on the side.