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Authentic Instant Pot Kare Kare: A Beloved Filipino Oxtail Stew Recipe

Kare Kare stands as one of the most iconic and beloved dishes in Filipino cuisine, celebrated for its rich, savory peanut sauce and tender meat. This traditional Filipino oxtail stew, often considered a culinary masterpiece, brings together a unique blend of flavors and textures that tantalize the palate. While there are numerous regional variations across the Philippines, the unifying factor, and indeed the heart of Kare Kare, is its distinctive peanut-based sauce.

Historically, Kare Kare has been prepared with oxtail, a cut of beef renowned for its gelatinous texture and deep flavor when slow-cooked. However, the versatility of this stew allows for other protein choices, including goat, various beef cuts like beef shank or tripe, and even vegetarian versions using mushrooms and plant-based ingredients. Regardless of the protein, the nutty, creamy sauce remains the star, elevating simple ingredients into a truly unforgettable meal. Its hearty and robust character makes it a comforting dish, deeply ingrained in Filipino culinary heritage, and unlike any other stew you might encounter globally.

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Mastering Kare Kare in Your Instant Pot: A Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing Kare Kare, while requiring a few distinct steps, is a moderately challenging dish that is well within the reach of most home cooks. With the advent of the Instant Pot, this traditional stew becomes even more accessible, significantly cutting down on cooking time without sacrificing its authentic flavor. Most ingredients for this flavorful Filipino oxtail stew can be found at your local grocery store, with only a couple of specialty items perhaps requiring a trip to an Asian market or an online order.

One ingredient that often raises questions is annatto seeds. These tiny, reddish-orange seeds are not primarily for flavor but are crucial for imparting Kare Kare with its characteristic appetizing reddish-orange hue. Many supermarkets carry annatto seeds in the spice aisle, often at a very affordable price. Should you find them elusive, don’t despair! Paprika, turmeric, or a blend of both can serve as excellent substitutes. Simply add enough to achieve that vibrant, warm color that makes Kare Kare so visually appealing.

Understanding Bagoong: The Essential Pink Paste

The “pink paste” often mentioned in Kare Kare discussions is, in fact, Salted Shrimp Paste, known as “bagoong alamang” in the Philippines. It’s important to note that bagoong is not mixed directly into the Kare Kare stew during cooking. Instead, it serves as a crucial condiment, typically served on the side, allowing each diner to add it to their preference. While not every single person who enjoys Kare Kare uses it, a significant majority would argue that bagoong is an indispensable accompaniment that truly completes the dish.

Shrimp paste is created by fermenting finely crushed shrimp with salt over several weeks. The Filipino variant is distinctively bright pink or reddish, contributing to its unique character. You’ll almost certainly find it in the ethnic or Asian food aisle of a well-stocked supermarket, particularly in Asian grocery stores. If local sourcing proves difficult, ordering it online is a convenient option. For those embarking on their first Kare Kare culinary adventure, acquiring some bagoong is highly recommended, as its pungent, salty, and umami-rich flavor provides a remarkable contrast and depth that elevates the entire dining experience.

The Instant Pot Advantage for Kare Kare

Traditionally, preparing Kare Kare involves simmering oxtail for three to four hours to achieve the desired melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. This long cooking process can be a deterrent for many aspiring home cooks. This is precisely where the Instant Pot, or any electric pressure cooker, becomes an invaluable kitchen tool. By harnessing the power of pressure cooking, you can achieve perfectly tender oxtail in approximately one hour, drastically reducing cooking time without any compromise on the final texture or flavor. The result is a rich, succulent stew that tastes as though it has been lovingly simmered all day, making Kare Kare a perfect candidate for modern pressure cooking methods.

Embracing Vegetable Versatility in Kare Kare

While the tender oxtail and luscious peanut sauce are the main attractions, the vegetables are an integral part of Kare Kare, providing essential texture, freshness, and nutritional balance. Just like the proteins, the choice of vegetables can vary widely. Common additions include eggplant, string beans (or green beans), and leafy greens such as pechay (often referred to as bok choy) or banana blossoms. However, don’t let specific vegetable requirements cause stress; the beauty of Kare Kare lies in its adaptability.

The key is to include a generous amount of vegetables. Oxtail, while flavorful, isn’t the “meatiest” cut, and the vegetables contribute significantly to the stew’s heartiness and ability to be truly satisfying. If traditional vegetables like pechay or banana blossoms are unavailable or not looking their best, feel free to substitute with what you have on hand. For example, cabbage makes a fantastic alternative, offering a pleasant crunch and bulk, similar to its role in other Filipino stews like Instant Pot Bulalo. The goal is to add plenty of fresh, vibrant produce to complement the rich stew.

Crafting Your Instant Pot Kare Kare: The Process

The preparation of this delicious Filipino stew is straightforward, broken down into manageable steps. You’ll begin by preparing your vegetables. Chop the eggplant into rounds and then halve them. Trim the ends from your green beans. Peel and roughly chop your yellow onion. Quarter the cabbage into substantial chunks. These vegetables will be sautéed first to soften them slightly before being set aside, preventing them from becoming overcooked in the pressure cooker.

Next, you’ll prepare the star of the show: the oxtail. Brown the oxtail pieces in the Instant Pot to develop a deeper flavor, then pressure cook them with part of the onion until incredibly tender. While the oxtail is cooking, you’ll simultaneously prepare the annatto seeds by soaking them in water to extract their vibrant color. This simple step ensures that beautiful reddish-orange hue without altering the stew’s flavor. Crucially, you’ll also toast and grind white rice, which will serve as the natural thickening agent for your Kare Kare sauce, giving it that characteristic rich consistency. For a quick alternative, although not traditional, some cooks might consider using cornstarch as a thickener, but the toasted ground rice offers a superior texture and subtle nutty flavor.

The Grand Finale: Assembling the Exquisite Peanut Sauce

Once the oxtail has reached peak tenderness, it’s time to bring the flavors together and create that luscious peanut sauce. You’ll add the colorful annatto water (strained to remove the seeds), the crushed peanuts, and the creamy peanut butter to the pot. Stir this mixture well to combine, allowing the flavors to meld as it simmers. Finally, reintroduce all your sautéed vegetables back into the pot, stirring them gently into the rich, simmering stew. Let everything simmer together for an additional 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your preferred level of vegetable tenderness. Alternatively, if you’re not ready to serve immediately, the Instant Pot’s “Keep Warm” function is perfect for holding the stew at a perfect serving temperature for a few hours until dinner time.

Kare Kare is traditionally served piping hot, accompanied by a generous portion of fluffy steamed white rice. And, of course, no Kare Kare experience is complete without bagoong alamang (salted shrimp paste) served on the side. The technique is to place a small dollop of bagoong on your plate and add a tiny amount to each bite of Kare Kare and rice, allowing its intense, salty flavor to cut through the richness of the peanut sauce, creating a perfectly balanced and authentic Filipino culinary experience. This delightful stew is more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of Filipino hospitality and flavor.

Kare Kare Recipe – Made Easy with the Instant Pot

A Filipino Oxtail Stew with a Peanut butter sauce.

3.85 from 108 votes

Print Recipe
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Course:
Main Course

Cuisine:
Filipino

Keyword:
filipino kare kare, oxtail stew with peanut butter

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cook Time:

1 hour
20 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour
40 minutes

Servings:
6

Calories:

1037kcal

Author:
James Bennett aka “Dad”

Equipment

Electric Pressure Cooker
Spice Grinder
Saute Pan
Strainer

Ingredients

3 lbs Oxtail
1 Eggplant
½ Cabbage
¾ Cup Ground Peanuts
¾ Cup Peanut Butter
1 oz Annatto Seeds
½ Cup Ground Toasted White Rice
1 Yellow Onion
1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
8 Cup Water (Estimate: Use enough to cover Oxtails)
¼ Cup Vegetable Oil

Instructions

Chop the eggplant into rounds and then chop the rounds in half.
Remove the ends from the green beans.
Peel and cut the onion into chunks or slices.
Cut the cabbage into manageable chunks.
Set the Instant Pot to Saute (Normal Setting).
Add a “splash” of vegetable oil to the pot, just enough to coat the bottom.
Add the minced garlic, green beans, ½ of the yellow onion, eggplant, black pepper, and salt.
Cook the veggies until they have softened, about 5-10 minutes.
Remove the veggies and set aside for later.
Add another splash of oil.
Add the cabbage and cook until soft, about 10 or 20 minutes.
Remove the cabbage.
Add another splash of oil.
Add the oxtail and brown them quickly, turning as needed. Only about 5 minutes.
Add the other half of the yellow onion and then pour enough water over the oxtails to cover them.
Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to Manual (High Pressure) for 38 minutes.
While the oxtails are cooking, prepare the annatto seeds by placing them in a container and pouring 1 cup of water over them. This will extract the color, which is all they are being used for.
While the annatto seeds are soaking, put a pan over medium-high heat and add the white rice. Do not add any oil. Stir occasionally until you see the rice has browned.
Take ¾ cups of peanuts and crush or grind them up.
Take the toasted white rice and grind it to a fine powder using a burr grinder or spice grinder.
After the Instant Pot beeps, let it sit for at least 10 minutes (Natural Pressure Release) and then release any remaining pressure (Quick Release) and open it. This is about an hour after you started the cooking.
Add in the peanuts, strain the water from the annatto seeds and add it to the pot, then add the peanut butter and stir thoroughly.
Set the Instant Pot to Saute and adjust it to the “Less” setting.
After 6 minutes, add the ground toasted rice and stir.
After 10 minutes, add in all of the reserved vegetables and stir.
Let the stew simmer for 10-30 minutes depending on how soft you want your vegetables.
Serve immediately, or let it sit in the Instant Pot on warm with the lid on until you are ready to serve with a side of salted shrimp paste and white rice.

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New to the Instant Pot? Let Us Guide You!

If you’re new to the world of electric pressure cooking or simply want to brush up on your skills, you’ve come to the right place. The Instant Pot is a versatile kitchen appliance that can revolutionize your cooking, making dishes like Kare Kare faster and easier than ever before. We’ve compiled an extensive resource page dedicated to all things Instant Pot, covering everything from basic functionalities to advanced tips and tricks.

Click Here to Explore Our Instant Pot Basics Guide.

Craving More Filipino Flavors?

If your taste buds are delighted by the rich and savory notes of Filipino cuisine, you’ll be thrilled to discover more authentic recipes that are simplified for your modern kitchen. After mastering Kare Kare, why not try another Filipino classic?

We highly recommend our Instant Pot Pork Bistek Tagalog recipe. This flavorful dish, characterized by its tender pork slices marinated in soy sauce, calamansi (or lemon), and an abundance of sautéed onions, is another staple that brings comfort and joy to the dinner table. It’s a must-try for anyone who appreciates the unique balance of sweet, sour, and savory that defines Filipino cooking, especially if you have a love for onions!

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