🍲 Kare-Kare (Oxtail and Vegetables in Peanut Sauce)

Ingredients

• 1 pack (1.5–2 lb) oxtail
• 6 cups water
• ½ cup annatto seeds for coloring
• 3 eggplants
• 1 lb string beans
• 1 banana blossom
• 1 head garlic, chopped
• 1 onion, sliced
• ¼ cup cooking oil
• 1 cup ground peanuts
• 1 cup toasted ground rice

Method

1. Boil the oxtail in water until tender.
2. Soak annatto seeds in ½ cup water, set aside. Rub the seeds if necessary to bring out color.
3. Cut string beans in 3-inch lengths.
4. Cut eggplants diagonally, ½-inch thick.
5. Cut banana blossoms diagonally, ½-inch thick.
6. Parboil string beans, eggplants and banana blossoms, then set aside.
7. Sauté garlic and onions in cooking oil.
8. Take out the annatto seeds, add the water, and boil for 5 minutes.
9. Stir in ground peanuts and ground rice.
10. Bring to a boil, then add the oxtail and vegetables.
11. Add more water if needed to have enough sauce; it should be thick and not watery. Add fish sauce to taste.
12. Serve with steamed rice and shrimp paste (bagoong) on the side.