Kare-Kare: Creamy Peanut Stew with Oxtail and Vegetables

Prep: 20 mins  |  Cook: 2 hours  |  Serves: 6

Kare-Kare is a celebration in a pot — rich peanut sauce coating tender oxtail and vegetables. My family reserved this dish for Sundays and fiestas, its aroma a signal that something special was happening.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg oxtail or beef shank
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup ground toasted rice
  • 4 cups water or broth
  • 1 eggplant, sliced
  • 1 banana heart, sliced
  • 1 bundle string beans
  • 1 bundle pechay (bok choy)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil oxtail until tender (about 1.5–2 hours). Save the broth.
  2. Sauté onion and garlic. Add peanut butter and ground rice, stirring until thick.
  3. Gradually pour in broth to create a smooth sauce.
  4. Add cooked oxtail and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in vegetables and cook until tender.

Serving Tip

Best enjoyed with hot rice and shared with family.

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