Beef Stew (Nilagang Bulalo)

Who would not love nilagang baka (beef stew)? Nilagang baka is very popular in the Philippines. You can see bulalohan (beef stew eateries) almost everywhere. These bulalohan's are often the favorite stop-over place for travelers. 

Today's recipe is obviously beef stew :). There are many varieties of how beef stew is cooked.  Some beef stew recipes use too many ingredients. But, Bread and the Word would stick to its idea of keeping the recipe simple and quick to cook. As much as possible, Bread and the Word will just use the most ordinary ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. 

So, let's start cooking.


Below are what you need:

• 1 kg - beef shank (with bone marrow)
• 1 pc - cabbage or chinese cabbage
• 2 pcs - potatoes
• 3 to 4 cloves - garlic
• 1 tbsp - whole black pepper
• Salt or fish sauce to taste
• 1 pc - lemon or 4 pcs calamansi
• Chilies (optional)
• 1 pc - onion
• 2 tbsp - oyster sauce (optional)

Preparation:

Put 2 liters of water in a stock pot, put in the beef shank, onion (cut in half), minced garlic, peppers and a tablespoon of salt or fish sauce. Simmer until beef is tender. Scum will form above the soup, remove it. When beef is tender enough, add the quartered potatoes until cooked. Add the cabbage and let simmer for at least 2 minutes. Add more water if needed. Add the oyster sauce. Add more salt or fish sauce gradually according to your taste preference.

Enjoy your beef stew by mixing fish sauce and calamansi or lemon. You may add chilies if you want it really hot.