Have you ever thought how complicated filipino cooking is? It’s not!
After my post on Adobo, I now delve into the very simple and close-knit family of tomato-based dishes.

All filipino tomato-based dishes (pork/beef/chicken) have this in common:

Garlic, onion and tomato are sauteed until the onion and tomato are soft and the garlic is brown. Meat is added and sauteed with the rest of the prior ingredients. Enough water is added for the meat to simmer in for an hour (pork chunks), 30 minutes (ground meat), 45 mins-1 hour (chicken) and 2 hours (beef). Tomato sauce is added when the meat is soft enough. Optional addition of the corresponding broth cube is done.

Now we go to the differences, namely, meat cut and accessory ingredients that greatly define the individual personality of the tomato-based dish you’re cooking:

1. Caldereta/Kaldereta (usually beef)

Use big chunks of meat. After the simmering/softening process, liver spread, potato cubes, green peas and bell pepper strips are added, along with black pepper any other seasoning that you desire (fish sauce or salt).

2. Mechado (beef) and Afritada (pork/chicken)

Use large chunks of meat. After the simmering process, add big cubes of potatoes and carrots, and cut up baguio beans along with black pepper any other seasoning that you desire (fish sauce or salt).

3. Menudo (usually pork)

Small pieces of meat are used. After the simmering process, cut-up hotdog/vienna sausage, small pieces of pork liver, raisins, small cubes of potato, bell pepper and carrots are added along with black pepper any other seasoning that you desire (fish sauce or salt)..

4. Picadillo

Ground beef or pork is used. After simmering, add very small chunks of potato and carrot, and raisins along with black pepper any other seasoning that you desire (fish sauce or salt)..

5. Pochero

Use large chunks of meat. After the simmering process, add cut up “saging na saba”/plantains, medium potato chunks and cabbage along with black pepper any other seasoning that you desire (fish sauce or salt)..

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Pretty simple huh? Enjoy!

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