 |
This is my entry to this month’s Lasang Pinoy hosted by Minnette! |
When I was a kid (and way into my adulthood), I looked forward to Sunday lunches with my grandparents. Wowo, my grandpa, cooked either delicious pancit with tofu and his special sauce or his famous beef caldereta. I found it hard to imagine how a tall and formal colonel could put on an apron and stand in the hot kitchen. I remember him stepping out to take a break, dressed in his unbuttoned polo and shorts with a glass of brandy on his hand, welcoming us on a Family Sunday. The aroma of the beef caldereta pervaded their home. Mmmmm. The thought makes me smile now. I wish I had stood by his side at least once when he cooked his signature dishes.
Everyone in the family looked forward to his caldereta. We would spoon the sauce over our rice, turning our plates into shallow soup bowls. I loved biting into the chorizo and tender beef. I also liked biting into the tart olives — nakakakilig! I think my first memory of olives was in his caldereta.
After a scrumptious lunch, I would tell him how delicious his caldereta was. He would break into a big smile, say “Talaga ha!” and then pat me on the back.
Before Wowo passed away, he was able to share some of his signature recipes with us. I know it’s weird but I get really emotional just reading through the recipe. It’s been more than a year but well, I miss him a lot.
Is this soul food? Definitely. It’s a recipe that’s got heart and a lot of stories behind it. I don’t think my family can eat caldereta without sharing at least one story about Wowo. This is a family heritage recipe, one that will be passed on to future generations. It’s not only supremely delicious, it’s one way of keeping Wowo’s memory alive.
WOWO’S CALDERETA
1st set of ingredients:
One kilo beef shank, cubed
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup white vinegar
1 tsp crushed blank pepper
¼ cup soy sauce
1 head garlic, crushed
Marinate at least 1 to 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
2nd set of ingredients:
Olive oil (for frying)
1 pc. Green bell pepper
1 big onion, sliced
1 can Purefoods chorizo de bilbao
2 cans tomato sauce
Green peas
2 pcs red bell pepper
Potatoes
Olives
1 can liver spread
Fry beef pieces in olive oil. Set aside.
In big pot, saute onions, add tomato sauce, bell peppers, chorizo de bilbao and beef pieces.
Cover with boiling water. Simmer until tender. Add bay leaf, potatoes, green peas, olives and liver spread.
Cook five minutes more.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Karen
November 25, 2005 at 11:24 am (18 years ago)Yes, soul food indeed!
Did you cook Wowo’s Caldereta yourself? It looks wonderful, I can almost smell it. Your grandfather must be smiling down from above.
Toni
November 25, 2005 at 11:27 am (18 years ago)Karen: The one in the pic is c/o my Mom’s former cook.
I have yet to set aside quiet time to really cook it on my own. I still get very emotional reading through the recipe. Weird ba?
Alma
November 25, 2005 at 11:55 am (18 years ago)Beef caldereta is my favorite! I like using that spicy liver liverspread to add kick to the food. Too bad, my husband never liked anything with red sauce… He simply doesn’t know what he is missing!
dang
November 25, 2005 at 12:56 pm (18 years ago)ive tried this recipe from maya’s kitchenomics pero wala akong chorizo..nakain naman ng neighbors ko..infact eto ang laging request pag me potluck party kami..
take care always!
Toni
November 25, 2005 at 2:36 pm (18 years ago)Alma: Really? Sayang! I absolutely love red sauce. 😉
Dang: Specialty mo pala yan.
Ingat din!
jojo
November 25, 2005 at 3:20 pm (18 years ago)sis…naglalaway ako ha!
have a nice long weekend!
Toni
November 25, 2005 at 3:27 pm (18 years ago)jojo: May work ako
YOU enjoy the weekend!
sha
November 25, 2005 at 6:07 pm (18 years ago)nag lalawat at muntik na iyak na feel ko rin na miss mo si wowo.
I will test this recipe and let u know.
good soul food toni, smacking
Toni
November 25, 2005 at 6:14 pm (18 years ago)sha: thanks dear sha.
JO
November 25, 2005 at 10:17 pm (18 years ago)hubby always ask me if i know how to cook caldereta… i guess i should give it a try now that i have a recipe… thanks for sharing Toni. Enjoy your weekend!
husticia
November 26, 2005 at 7:24 am (18 years ago)uy sarap! definitely soul food!
toni
November 26, 2005 at 7:37 pm (18 years ago)jo: Let’s try it together! I’m cooking it naman tomorrow w/ my Mom for the first time.
Enjoy!
justice: Yup! Yum!
dexie
November 26, 2005 at 11:20 pm (18 years ago)heartfelt story toni. the dish looks scrumptious. one of my Dad’s favorites
Sidney
November 27, 2005 at 2:31 pm (18 years ago)Indeed, men can be great cooks !
And it seems Wowo was one of them!
This caldereta looks yummy!
Toni
November 28, 2005 at 10:48 am (18 years ago)dexie: Thanks dex!
Sidney: Thank you! Yes, Wowo was a fantastic cook!
JMom
November 28, 2005 at 10:52 am (18 years ago)Food does make that unbreakable connection with our family, doesn’t it? All my comfort foods are associated with those who first introduce them to me or who cooked them the best. Your wowo sounds great. The caldereta recipe looks very doable. Maybe I’ll try it too. This is one I haven’t made yet, because my dad always used kambing, and I wasn’t sure about substituting other meats. I found a butcher that sell kambing though, so this may just be in my repertoir soon, too
Great job, Toni!
Toni
November 28, 2005 at 4:28 pm (18 years ago)JMom: I’ve tried the kambing version but I prefer beef. Some nga use chicken too!
Yes, Wowo was a great man. I miss him a lot. Thanks for sharing your stories!
iska
November 28, 2005 at 5:56 pm (18 years ago)hi toni! i tried kaldereta last week using sassy’s recipe. it’s great. now i will have to try wowo’s kaldereta w/ chorizo and liver spread
Toni
November 28, 2005 at 6:12 pm (18 years ago)iska: Oh wow! Let me know how it goes, girl! Now let me hop over to Sassy’s
Connie
December 1, 2005 at 3:16 pm (18 years ago)How kind of you to share Wowo’s recipe! I’ll definitely try this one out. Thanks :o)
Connie
December 1, 2005 at 3:19 pm (18 years ago)Oh, wait. Are you referring to big cans of tomato sauce or small ones?
Toni
December 1, 2005 at 3:42 pm (18 years ago)Connie: I used small cans!
Let me know how it goes!
mae gabriel
December 4, 2005 at 11:54 pm (18 years ago)Hi Toni,
Thanks for the recipe. I’ll try and find all the ingredients and find a quiet time (perhaps a weekend) to cook it. I can’t wait.
Toni
December 5, 2005 at 10:58 am (18 years ago)mae: Let me know how it goes!
stefoodie
December 7, 2005 at 12:20 am (18 years ago)hi toni! awesome entry — nakakalaway! i put liver spread in mine too — yum, so decadent! and i love chorizo in my caldereta too, takes it totally over the top! your wowo sounds a lot like my lolo! thanks for sharing your story.
lani
December 30, 2005 at 8:38 pm (18 years ago)Thank you for sharing us this recipe. Wowo’s kaldereta is indeed a soul food.
Nice post and I’ll try this recipe with chorizo.
Aileen
December 30, 2005 at 11:57 pm (18 years ago)Not much of a cook…….I’ll try this recipe for New Year…..sorry to be so ignorant but what do you mean by “cover with boiling water” ? Thanks!
Toni
January 2, 2006 at 3:06 pm (18 years ago)stef: I enjoy sharing stories about my grandpa.
Thanks for dropping by!
lani: Let me know how it goes!
aileen: Boil water separately, then pour this over the beef. Make sure the water totally submerges the beef!
nalie
February 17, 2006 at 9:36 pm (18 years ago)this caldereta is good…
peterb
June 10, 2006 at 12:40 pm (18 years ago)i just found this now. looks like the regular foodies have been here already.
i gotta try this. thanks for sharing!