Mechado Recipe

Name derived from mitsa meaning "wick" which is what the pork fat inserted into a slab of beef looks like before the larded beef is cooked, sliced, and served in the seasoned tomato sauce it is cooked in.


Pork Mechado
Good for 4-6 persons.
Ingredients:
500 grams pork with fat, cut into chunk
2 cups tomato sauce or 1/2 cup tomato paste
2 onions, quartered
5 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves(laurel)
4 medium potatoes, quartered
2 bell pepper, sliced
2 cups beef stock or beef cubes dissolved in water
1 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 carrot, cut into cubes(optional)
1/2 cup green peas(optional)
1/4 cup vinegar(optional)
Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan heat oil and fry potatoes and carrots until golden brown.
2. Drain and set aside.
Part 2
1. In a pot, heat oil and saute garlic and onions.
2. Add pork, fish sauce and soy sauce then continue sauteing until color turns to brown.
3. Pour tomato sauce, bay leaves and beef stock then simmer until tender. Add water if necessary.
4. Add vinegar and boil again for 2-3 minutes. Do not stir.
5. Add carrots, potatoes, green peas and bell pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
6. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper according to taste.
7. Transfer to serving plate and serve with steamed rice.



NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 3-5
BEEF MECHADO INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 piece large onion, sliced
• 500 grams beef chuck,cubed
• 2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon black ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon msg
• 1 beef broth cube
• 2 pieces bay leaves (laurel)
• 3 cups water
• 1 piece medium potato, cubed
• 1 medium carrots, cubed
• 1 green or red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon cheese
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• salt to taste (Just add to your taste preference)

PROCEDURES:
1. Heat cooking oil in a pressure cooker then saute the garlic and onion.
2. Put-in the beef and saute for about 3 minutes or until color turns light brown.
3. Add soysauce, black ground pepper, msg, beef broth cube, bay leaf and water then pressure cooked for 30-45 minutes (under medium heat) until the meat is tender.
4. Put-in the potatoes, carrots, green and red bell pepper, cheese, brown sugar,  tomato sauce ( just add water if desired) and cook until the vegetables are soft (about 10 to 15 minutes) then simmer until excess liquid evaporates.. Taste it,  add salt just to taste preference.
5. Place in a serving plate then serve hot with rice. Share and Enjoy!