Bulalo is a traditional Filipino soup that’s both comforting and flavorful. It’s made with bone-in beef broth, vegetables, and bone marrow. This dish is perfect during the rainy season. Bulalo may appear simple due to its limited ingredients, however, it takes a great deal of patience and perseverance to make this delectable dish.
The beef in this bulalo recipe needs to simmer and tenderize for roughly ninety minutes before it can be served. Simply let the pot of bulalo sit on low heat until it’s ready. If you have a pressure cooker, cooking times are drastically reduced in comparison to conventional recipes. Although it may still take some time, the convenience and speed of preparation can be invaluable.
Also Read: How to Cook Filipino Oxtail Kare Kare
The most important part of making Filipino Bulalo are the ingredients. To make this dish, you will need bone-in beef shank, onion, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, corn cobs and green beans. Make sure to use high-quality beef for a savory soup with an intense flavor. The bones should be cooked until they are soft and the marrow can be easily removed. To achieve this, you will need to simmer the beef for about 90 minutes.
Once the beef has cooked through, it’s time to add the vegetables and aromatics. Begin by adding onions, garlic and tomatoes to the pot. Let them cook for a few minutes before adding potatoes, corn cobs and green beans. A good rule of thumb is to add enough vegetables to double the amount of beef in your bulalo recipe. This will make sure that you have a flavorful stew with plenty of vegetables to go around.
Once all the ingredients are added, season with salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for another thirty minutes. The vegetables should be tender and the broth should be rich and flavorful. Finally, skim off any excess fat from the top of the stew before serving hot with a side of steamed white rice or bulalo bread rolls.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of beef shank – the perfect cut for slow cooking and soups.
- 1 whole cabbage Remove the leaves from a whole head of cabbage, one by one.
- 1 bundle bok choy
- Divide two cobs of corn into three equal parts.
- 2 Tablespoons whole peppercorn
- 1/2 cup green onions cut unto 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 onion
- 1 Liter of water
- a dash of fish sauce to your dish for an extra layer of flavor. (optional)
Steps to Make Filipino Bulalo or Beef Shank Stew
- Place a large pot of water atop the stove and bring it to a rolling boil.
- Begin by adding the beef shank and then top with onion and several whole peppercorns. Allow this to simmer for 1.5 hours until cooked through. For a succulent, tender result, cook in a pressure cooker for at least thirty minutes.
- Add the corn and simmer for another 10 minutes
- For a delicious balance of flavors, combine fish sauce, cabbage, pechay and green onion into your dish.
- Serve to steam hot! Dig in and savor every bite!
Tips
The prize part of the Bulalo is the bone marrow, so make sure to extract it before cooking. Bone marrow is very flavorful and nutritious and must not be overlooked. You can add a dash of fish sauce to your dish, as an extra layer of flavor!
If you’re vegetarian, substitute beef shank with mushrooms and use vegetable broth instead.
As for vegetables, add enough so that they double the amount of beef in your stew. Also in getting your vegetables make sure that they are fresh and of good quality. I prefer to serve the leafy vegetables like your cabbage or bokchoy when you’re ready to serve your Bulalo soup. I prefer my leafy vegetable to be crispy when I take a bite of it.
For a tastier and healthier bulalo, it is recommended to pre-cook the ingredients by blanching them first. This crucial step will help ensure that all the unwanted fat and sediment are removed, leaving you with a tastier and more flavorful dish! Simmer your beef shanks in a pot of water over medium heat, lightly skimming the impurities and fats that accumulate on top. In ten minutes, remove the beef from the heat and rinse it with cold water to “cleanse” it. After you have cleansed the pot of any unnecessary residues and discarded the used water.
Before cooking, it is essential to properly prepare your meat. Boiling the bone marrow of meats will help rid them of any contaminants, while beef brisket should be soaked in water beforehand to draw out blood and other impurities. Taking these steps before cooking ensures that you are consuming only high-quality meat!
If you lack the patience to simmer beef for hours, your pressure cooker presents a quick solution. With this handy kitchen tool, you can decrease the amount of time it takes to cook a delicious meal.
You can customize this recipe to your preference by adding or omitting vegetables. For instance, some recipes only include cabbage and corn. However, you may also opt in for other veggies such as pechay, bok choy, green beans and even saba bananas! The possibilities are endless so just season it up according to what you desire.
Use Fish sauce to add saltiness with a hint of umami flavor to the soup. If you prefer not to use this, you may also use soy sauce or add more salt, instead.
Dipping Sauce for Bulalo
Patis and calamansi would surely enhance the flavor of your bulalo. I also want my dipping sauce to be spicy. Combing your dipping sauce with a hot and piping Bulalo soup is the perfect way to enjoy your flavorful meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What goes well with Bulalo?
Bulalo pairs best with steamed white rice or bulalo bread rolls. The savory flavor of the soup makes a great accompaniment to plain, cooked grains and starches.
2. What type of vegetables should I add?
You can customize this recipe to your preference by adding or omitting vegetables. For instance, some recipes only include cabbage and corn. However, you may also opt in for other veggies such as pechay, bok choy, green beans and even saba bananas! The possibilities are endless so just season it up according to what you desire.
3. Do I need to pre-cook the ingredients?
Yes, it is recommended to pre-cook the ingredients by blanching them first. This crucial step will help ensure that all the unwanted fat and sediment are removed, leaving you with a tastier and more flavorful dish! Simmer your beef shanks in a pot of water over medium heat, lightly skimming the impurities and fats that accumulate on top. In ten minutes, remove the beef from the heat and rinse it with cold water to “cleanse” it. After you have cleansed the pot of any unnecessary residues and discarded the used water.
4. What type of seasoning should I use?
Fish sauce is a great way to add saltiness with a hint of umami flavor to the soup. You can also opt for soy sauce or just simply add more salt. You can also customize the soup by adding different herbs and spices such as bay leaves, garlic powder, oregano and thyme.
5. How long should I simmer the beef?
A: Depending on the size of your beef shanks, it will take around 30 minutes to 2 hours for them to become tender. You can check for doneness by poking the beef with a fork and checking if it has become tender.
6. Is Bulalo hearty enough to be served as a main dish?
Absolutely! The combination of beef shank, vegetables, herbs and spices make bulalo a rich and savory dish that is perfect for dinner. The hearty and savory flavors make this an ideal main dish that your family and friends will love.
7. What can I serve to complement my Bulalo?
Bulalo is best served with steamed white rice or bulalo bread rolls. You can also add a side of fresh vegetables as a healthy accompaniment to the main dish. Patis and calamansi would also enhance the flavor of your bulalo and a spicy dipping sauce would make it even more enjoyable. This is a great way to enjoy your flavorful meal!
8. Can I freeze this soup for later use?
Yes, you can definitely store Bulalo in an airtight container and freeze it for later use. To reheat the soup, thaw it in your refrigerator first before transferring to a pot and reheating on low heat until it is warm throughout. Enjoy!
Summary
Bulalo is a flavorful and savory dish that can be served as a main course. It pairs best with steamed white rice or bread rolls and you can customize it to your preference by adding different vegetables such as cabbage, corn, bok choy, green beans and even saba bananas! The possibilities are endless so just season it up according to what you desire. Don’t forget the fish sauce for added saltiness and umami flavor in the soup. To complete this delicious meal serve patis with calamansi on the side along with a spicy dipping sauce of your choice. Enjoy!