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Beef Caldereta

Rich Tomato Beef Stew with Spanish Flair

⏱️
Prep Time 20 min
🍳
Cook Time 1.5 hrs
🍽️
Servings 6-8
📊
Difficulty Medium
Beef Caldereta - Filipino Beef Stew

About This Recipe

Beef Caldereta is a Filipino party dish - rich, savory, and always a crowd-pleaser. This Spanish-influenced stew features tender beef chunks braised in a tomato sauce enriched with liver spread, bell peppers, olives, and cheese. The result is a complex, deeply flavorful dish that's worth the time and effort.

Traditionally served at fiestas and special gatherings, Caldereta showcases Filipino cooking's ability to take foreign influences and make them uniquely our own. The addition of liver spread and cheese creates a sauce so rich and thick, it clings beautifully to each piece of beef.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup liver spread (Reno or similar)
  • 3 cups beef broth or water
  • 2 large potatoes, cubed
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 cup green olives
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or quickmelt)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2-3 Thai chilies (siling labuyo), optional

Instructions

  1. 1

    Brown the Beef

    Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper, then brown on all sides in batches, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside.

  2. 2

    Build the Base

    In the same pot, saute garlic and onion until fragrant and softened. Add tomato sauce, liver spread, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir well to combine.

  3. 3

    Braise the Beef

    Return beef to the pot. Add beef broth, bay leaves, and chilies if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1-1.5 hours until beef is fork-tender.

  4. 4

    Add Vegetables

    Add potatoes and carrots. Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add bell peppers and olives in the last 5 minutes.

  5. 5

    Finish with Cheese

    Stir in grated cheese until melted and the sauce is thick and creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot over steamed rice.

Tips & Variations

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Meat Choices

Use beef chuck or short ribs for best results. The fat content keeps the meat moist during long cooking.

🧀

Cheese Magic

The cheese thickens the sauce beautifully. Don't skip it - it's essential to authentic Caldereta.

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Make Ahead

Caldereta tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. Perfect for meal prep.