Classic Comfort Food: Nilagang Baka

If your household does not have Filipino food on a daily basis, whether for lunch or supper, there is always this craving for a hot pot of traditional Pinoy comfort food. One of them is Nilagang Baka. It is another form of beef stew, but this time, it has a clear broth. And like most stews, just throw everything in a pot and let it simmer till tender, then you're good to go.

This dish is very simple to prepare. There may be some regional variations in how it's made, but the basics are the same -- beef and vegetables in a clear broth. I only know one version of this dish, and I have cooked it that way for as long as I can remember. And I like it just the way it is.

My preferred cut of beef is the shank (with the bone) because of the natural beef flavor I get out of it. I think there is just the right amount of fat in it. Any excess fat, I can easily trim off, unlike the short ribs, which also gives tons of flavor but has lots of fat. For added flavor, I add beef neck bones (if you can find them). They do have meat in them, too, and provide more flavor. If you have lots of these beef bones, I suggest using a larger pot so you have enough room for your veggies as well.

After trimming the excess fat and cutting them into cubes (your choice of size), place the meat in a large pot. Add salt and ground black pepper, then pour water, just enough to cover the meat. Add a large onion (quartered) and some pepper corns. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer the meat till tender. Keep the lid on.

As you wait, prepare the vegetables. I include napa cabbage and green beans. Others would use pechay (Chinese cabbage) or regular cabbage instead, and add potatoes. Before adding the veggies, taste the broth if additional seasoning if needed. If you have to add, use a few dashes of fish sauce. Otherwise, salt should be fine as well. If the tenderness of the meat is close to where you want it, add the vegetables. Turn off heat once the vegetables are cooked to your liking.

Serve this dish with a steaming white rice. To compliment the dish, you can prepare a dipping sauce of lemon juice and fish sauce. Great dish for cold nights or rainy days.

Ingredients
Beef (cut in cubes)
Onion
Salt
Ground Pepper
Pepper corn
Water
Napa Cabbage (or regular cabbage)
Green beans
Potatoes (optional)
fish sauce (optional)
Lemon juice (for optional dipping sauce)