Original Beef Nilaga Recipe

Beef Nilaga or Nilagang Baka is literally translated as “Boiled Beef”. This is a simple soup dish best served during rainy and cold weather. Have you noticed the similarity of this dish to that of the Bulalo and Beef Pochero?

Bulalo is a clear soup made from the shank of the beef, simmered for hours until the meat almost detach from the bone and much of the collagen and bone marrow are dissolved into the broth. It is seasoned with simple spices which may differ according to the preference of the person preparing it. The choice of vegetables lies on the crops prolific in the region. The mode in which the dish is prepared resembles nilaga (stew). While nilaga varies on the type of meat to be included, bulalo calls for the specific use of beef shank and bone marrow. But just the same, the splendor of its rich and powerful taste highly depends on the time and the patience it entails to tenderize the meat and to extract its great flavors. These qualities, indeed, are intricate to the authenticity and grandeur of traditional Philippine cuisine.

This Nilaga recipe is the best that I’ve tried. This is quite unique because of the use of carrots. It makes the dish more colorful and adds vitamins such as Vitamin A to the meal — making it more nutritious. I like having beef nilaga when it is very hot. It keeps me feel warm on cold days and gives me the nourishment that I need.

Try this simple Beef Nilaga recipe and send us your feedback.

Beef Nilaga Recipe

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 2 hours 10 mins

Total time: 2 hours 20 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1/2 kg beef shank (cut into serving pieces)
5 cups water
2 pcs medium white onions (halved)
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 pcs large potatoes (quartered)
2 pcs saba (sliced diagonally into three)
2 pcs corn (cut into three)
2 pcs Knorr Beef Cubes
1 bunch pechay Tagalog (trimmed)
1/2 pc cabbage (cut into wedges)

Instructions

With these three simple steps, you will be able to craft a hearty Nilaga dish. Its warm soup mixed with chunks of meat and veggies makes for a filling meal that is best served to family. Here’s how you begin: Prepare a pot or casserole that will be big enough to fit your 5 cups of water, half a kilo of beef, onions, corn and black peppercorn. Turn the heat up to high. When you see big bubbles in the water, it’s time to cover the pot and turn your heat low. But when your fork does not stick to the meat when inserted, it means your beef is tender. This is a technique to check if the beef is done.
You may now throw in your potatoes and saba. Cover your pot and cook until these become tender.
Add in your Knorr Beef cubes and stir well. Put in the leafy veggies: cabbage and pechay and cook for another minute.
Be the hero of the day as you serve this comforting meal to your family. Best to serve it with a big bowl of white rice and a little saucer of patis and calamansi.
Put-in the vegetables starting with the potato and the carrots. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes
Add the bok choy (Pechay). Cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let it stay for 5 minutes.
Serve hot. Share and Enjoy!