BEEF MECHADO

Mechadong baka is beef stew in tomato sauce, potatoes and carrots. A Filipino dish very similar to kalderatang baka and I always can’t tell the difference between the two when I see these dishes. They both have tomato sauce and potatoes but I always forget that carrot is not 
Beef Mechado is a Filipino-style beef stew made with beef chunks with pork fat inserted in center and cooked in a lemon juice, soy sauce and yummy!

Deliciously tender chunks of beef slowly simmered in tomato sauce flavored with Asian twist.

1/2 kg beef, sliced
2 onions, peeled and quartered
2 medium potatoes, sliced and fried
1 medium sized carrot, sliced in 1/2" sections
2 red bell pepper, sliced
1 cups beef stock dissolved in water
2 bay leaves (laurel leaves)
2 teaspoon calamansi juice or vinegar
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce (or according to your taste)
salt & pepper to taste

Saute onions and add beef until golden brown. Set aside.
In a casserole or sauce pan, combine the beef, tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until the beef is almost tender.
Add the vinegar or calamansi juice and let boil for a minute
Add the fried potatoes, onions, carrots, and bell pepper and sugar.
Let simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked, stir occasionally to thicken sauce