My Nilagang Baka Recipe

Nilagang Baka or "boiled beef" as literally translated is an all-time favorite indeed. I know a friend who owns this famous Nilagang Baka specialty restaurant in Bacolod City where they serve this famous Filipino dish twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Their peak hours are from 7pm till dawn. I had the chance to talk with this friend of mine and eventually asked him for his Nilagang Baka Secret Recipe. He did not give me his recipe list literally but advised me that the secret for a very delicious and savory Nilagang Baka is in the beef stock. Preparing your beef stock may be a little bit time consuming but have patience and your sacrifices will be rewarded.

Here is a nilagang baka recipe that you should try out.

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo beef bones, chopped, 1/4 beef brain (for beef stock)
• 1 kilo beef cut into 1 1/2" cubes
• 5-8 potatoes cut same size as the beef
• 1 bundle of pechay, cut into 2 parts (optional)
• 1 small or medium sized cabbage cut quarterly
• 4 onions, diced
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 4-5 tablespoons patis or fish sauce / soy sauce
• 1 liter of water
• 2 chili red peppers
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Cooking Procedure:

• In a sauce pan or pot, simmer beef bones and brain for about 45 minutes and remove scum that rises to the surface. Then set aside the beef stock.
• On another pot, heat oil and sauté garlic and onions.
• Add the beef then sauté for another 3-5 minutes.
• Add water just enough to cover the beef then bring to a boil.
• Simmer until beef is tender.
• Add in more water if it dries up before the beef is cooked.
• Pour in your beef stock, potatoes, vinegar, patis, chili peppers
• Continue to simmer until potatoes are cooked.
• Add the pechay and cabbage. Do not overcook the vegetables.
• Salt and pepper to taste

Hot Tip:

• Make sure to prepare your beef stock well. Bones and bones with marrows inside are best.
• Add a little patis(fish sauce) and calamansi(calamondin) to desired taste.

SEE MORE FILIPINO BEEF RECIPES!

Have you tried this Nilagang Baka Recipe? If you have your own unique recipe that you would like to share with us or if you would like to be a contributor for this site please send me a message here.