Mechado is a Filipino tomato-based braised beef with savory-tangy flavors from calamansi and soy sauce. Traditionally made using leaner and inexpensive cuts of beef larded with pork fat to keep it juicy and more flavorful.
What is Mechado?
Beef Mechado or Mitsado is a classic Filipino dish greatly influenced by the Spanish way of cooking that was taught to our ancestors during their time here in the Philippines.
As marbled beef, prized for their tenderness, juiciness, and flavor, were too expensive for most people at this time. Cheaper but very lean cuts are what most can afford. However, to achieve the desired marbling to some extent, the larding technique was applied.
This is done by inserting strips of pork fat or lard into lean cuts of meat in order to make it more flavorful and tender as genuine marbled meat. This also allows the meat to be cooked for a long time to be tender without getting dry.
The name Mitsado came to be because of the pork fat sticking out of the lean beef that resembles a wick (like of a candle) or 'mitsa' in Filipino or "mecha" in Spanish.
Modern-day Mitsado
Nowadays, larding is no longer a common practice in Philippine culinary. Even my Mama doesn't remember anyone using this technique. I guess, more people can now easily afford some marbled cuts of beef without breaking the bank.
When picking the kind of beef you’re going to use for this recipe, it’s better to use fattier beef, since cooking Mechado calls for a longer cooking time as the beef simmers on low heat and the fat is instrumental in making sure that the beef does not dry out or come out too chewy to eat.
Since Mechado has a longer cooking time than other dishes, it’s normally a dish served for a special occasion or on weekends but it’s definitely more than worth the wait!
This recipe here is my attempt to reintroduce the traditional way of cooking Mechado.
Many people, Filipinos included, are often confused between similar types of dishes such as Mechado, Menudo, and Kaldereta. They are all predominantly served with tomato sauce as a base and garnished with potatoes and carrots as their most common point.
However, here lie some differences; Menudo uses pork along with liver and is sauteed and stewed with the rest of its ingredients. While traditional Kaldereta uses goat meat, is also more common now to use beef. It is also braised but it is mainly characterized by being spicy hot.
Mechado also made with beef and braised, is flavored with soy sauce, calamansi juice and laurel leave that is the hallmark of its unique flavor.
Printable Recipe
Beef Mechado
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef - chuck, round or brisket
- 100 grams pork fat (fatback) - cut into long strips about half-inch thick (See NOTE 1)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 piece lemon - or 6 calamansi
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 Tbsp oil
- 1 big potato - cut into cubes
- 1 big carrot - cut into rounds about half-inch thick
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 6 pieces shallots - 2 pieces chopped, rest whole
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 pieces bay leaves
- 1 medium red bell pepper - cut into squares
- 1 medium green bell pepper - cut into squares
- 1 cup green peas
- fish sauce
Instructions
- Using a small knife, cut through the center of the beef to make a hole. Insert a pork fat from one end and push until it comes out to the other end. Do the same with the rest of the meat.
- Place larded meat on a bowl. Pour in soy sauce and juice from 1 lemon and add ground pepper. Mix until all meat are well coated. Cover and marinate for at least an hour.
- In a pot, heat oil over medium heat. Fry the potatoes and carrots until edges are lightly browned. Remove the potatoes and carrots from the pot and set aside. Turn heat to high and add the marinated beef and sear all sides until browned. Reserve the soy marinade for later.
- Turn heat to medium. Move the meat to the sides. Add the garlic and shallots and cook until limp.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and the reserved soy sauce marinade. Let it simmer for a minute or two and then pour in water. Add bay leaves and bring again to a simmer. Turn heat to low and cover pot and stew until beef is tender (about 1 ½ to 2 hours).
- Add back the potatoes and carrots. Add the bell peppers and green peas and season with fish sauce as needed. Simmer until sauce is reduced and vegetables are cooked.
- Cut the bigger chunks to a smaller size. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with rice or bread.
FAMY, sylvia says
5.0
Zoila says
I’m not filipin but I like Machado.
Allan says
Thanks for this recipe! Soooo good!
Flo says
Do i double everything up if I use twice the amount of beef? Thanks!
JJC says
Hi I’ve tried this recipe with beef and it was so yummy!!! I just want to know pls if this recipe would work with pork and chicken ? Do I need to do anything differently using those types of meat?
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Bebs says
Go ahead, I will recommend using chicken thighs as it has some fats in it and pork belly.
Marivic says
Love to try your mechado recipe
tsokonatwmint says
I tried this recipe and it turned out good even if i have to skip the pork fat, i used a 1 year old beef i found at the bottom of our freezer and i had to substitute the tomato sauce to tomato ketchup just because I didn’t double check if I have all the ingredients before I start cooking! I didn’t know how mechado should taste like but mine has a mix of sweet, sour and spicy result. Thank you for the recipe i love it😍
Bebs says
Sounds perfect to me 😉
Chaari says
I added Chorizo from Spain and olives
Bebs says
Thanks for the tips Chaari, Chorizo and olives do sound great!
2pots2cook says
Absolutely perfect frugal comfort food ! Thank you very much and enjoy your day 🙂
Bebs says
Thanks for the 5 stars and a nice day to you too!😊