Kare-Kare with Beans, Baby Bok Choy, and Eggplant

Ingredients

• •¼ cup achiote (annatto) seeds
• •¼ cup black peppercorns
• •⅓ cup dried bay leaves
• •4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• •5 pounds oxtails
• •1 to taste Kosher salt and pepper
• •2 medium onions
• •2 large carrots
• •3 stalks celery
• •1 pound shiitake mushrooms
• •1 cup dry white wine
• •5 cloves garlic
• •1 cup garlic chives
• •4 medium baby bok choy
• •1 medium Japanese eggplant
• •1 medium taro root
• •1 pound Chinese long beans
• •¾ cup creamy natural peanut butter
• •1 to taste garnishes
• •1 piece cheesecloth

Cooking Instructions

1. 1.

   Bundle achiote seeds, peppercorns, and bay leaves in cheesecloth and tie closed with kitchen twine; set sachet aside.

   5 min

2. 2.

   Preheat oven to 225°F. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or wide heavy pot over medium-high. Season oxtails generously with salt and pepper. Cook half of oxtails until browned all over, 8-12 minutes; transfer to a platter. Add 1 Tbsp. oil to pot; cook remaining oxtails. Pour off all but 3 Tbsp. fat from pot. (If pot is scorched, clean and start with 3 Tbsp. fresh oil.)

   25 min

3. 3.

   Return pot to medium-high heat. Cook chopped onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, stirring often, until lightly browned and very soft, 12-15 minutes. Add wine; cook, scraping up any browned bits, until almost completely evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 2 quarts water and reserved sachet. Bring to a vigorous boil; cook 1 minute. Return oxtails to pot (add water if needed to just cover). Reduce heat so liquid is simmering gently, cover, and transfer to oven. Braise, checking every 2 hours and adding more water if needed to keep oxtails barely submerged, until meat is just about falling off the bone, 6-8 hours. Let cool. Skim off fat; discard. (Or, ideally, chill overnight and scrape off fat before proceeding.)

   480 min

4. 4.

   Remove oxtails from pot; pull meat from bones. Discard bones (or save some meaty bones for serving). Strain braising liquid into a large bowl. You should have 6-8 cups; simmer to reduce further or add water if needed. Discard solids.

   20 min

5. 5.

   Clean pot and heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil over medium. Cook sliced onion, garlic, and garlic chives, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add bok choy, eggplant, taro (if using), and long beans; cook, stirring often, until just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add braising liquid and bring to a simmer; season with salt. Cook until vegetables are halfway tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in peanut butter to dissolve, then add meat. Cook just until meat is heated through, vegetables are tender, and flavors have melded, about 5 minutes. Season with more salt if needed.

   25 min

6. 6.

   Divide kare-kare among bowls; top with peanuts and red chile. Serve with shrimp paste.

   5 min