Beef Pares – Filipino beef pares features braised beef brisket simmered in a sweet, umami-rich sauce with fragrant star anise. Pair it with white or garlic fried rice and a light, savory broth.
What is Beef Pares?
Let’s talk about beef pares, a classic Filipino street food with specialty pares houses reserved for serving this dish alone, each with its unique preparation. The name ‘pares’ means ‘to pair’ in English because this dish brings together tender beef, flavorful garlic fried rice, and a comforting bowl of clear soup for a tasty, well-rounded meal.
What You Need to Make this Recipe
- Olive Oil: Sear the beef and cook the vegetables in olive oil.
- Beef: Select beef brisket with marbling; the extra fat flavors the broth and helps the meat tenderize as it braises. You can also use beef short rib.
- Salt + Pepper: Coat the brisket with kosher salt and coarse ground pepper before searing it.
- Onion: Use white or yellow onions.
- Garlic: I suggest using seven garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
- Beef Better than Bouillon: Enhance the flavor of the clear soup with Better than Bouillon or use a bouillon cube.
- Black Peppercorns: Flavor the broth with black peppercorns, and for a more intense peppery taste, slightly crush the peppercorns before adding them.
- Ginger: Enrich the meal with fresh ginger.
- Bay Leaves: Bay leaves provide a subtle clove-like flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is the perfect addition to a meaty braise, like beef pares, adding depth and complexity.
- Brown Sugar: Sweeten the dish with brown sugar or brown monk fruit for a sugar-free alternative.
- Star Anise: I mean it when I say that star anise is the real star of the meal. You can find it in the spice section of mainstream grocery stores or at your local Indian and Asian markets.
- Cornstarch: Thicken the sauce with a small amount of cornstarch to give the beef a perfect glazed finish.
Additions and Substitutions
To add more flavor and nutrients to the clear broth soup, simmer beef shanks with bone marrow to make bulalo pares.
How to Make Beef Pares
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
For the Beef Broth:
Step 1: Generously coat the beef with salt and pepper. Then, warm the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat and sear the meat until the color changes
Step 2: Add the onions and garlic to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in the water, Better than Bouillon, black peppercorns, ginger slices, and bay leaves; cover and cook for 1 hour until the beef is fork-tender.
Step 4: Strain the broth through a mesh strainer into a mixing bowl. Gather the beef and discard the solids. Set the broth aside.
For the Beef:
Step 5: Warm the oil in a saute pan and cook the onions until they become translucent and soften, for about 10 minutes.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: Stir in the reserved beef, 1 cup of the clear broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and star anise.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 15- 20 minutes on low-medium heat.
Step 7: Taste and season with salt and pepper. Then, whisk in the cornstarch and simmer until the sauce thickens, for about 5-8 minutes.
Step 8: Garnish the beef pares with thinly cut scallions and serve with a bowl of reserved clear broth.
Expert Tips
- Look for brisket with a good amount of marbling. I recommend purchasing the brisket and cutting it yourself rather than buying pre-cut meat.
- Sear the beef in oil to lock in moisture and build the base of flavor for the broth.
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Serving Suggestions
Spoon piping hot garlic fried rice onto a plate or shallow bowl and top it with the tender pieces of beef brisket. Garnish with thinly sliced scallions, fried garlic, or fried shallots, and complete the meal with clear soup on the side. Siomai and steamed white rice are other popular side dishes.
What to Do With the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store the leftovers in an airtight container; they will keep for 3-4 days.
- Freeze – Let the dish cool and transfer the beef and clear soup to separate freezer-safe containers or bags. Beef pares freezes for three months.
- Thaw – Defrost the beef and broth in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat – Warm the leftovers on the stovetop or microwave, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does beef pares taste like?
Beef pares made with Chinese influence is savory and sweet, and the star anise flavors every bite.
What kind of meat should I use to make pares?
The most common meat for beef pares is brisket, but you can use beef shank, beef chuck, or short ribs.
More Soup and Stew Recipes:
Beef Pares
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds beef brisket, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt,
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
- 1 medium white onion, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 6 cups water
- 1 teaspoon Beef Better Than Bouillon
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 – inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium white onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 – inch fresh ginger, grated
- 1 cup broth, (reserved from the clear broth)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 star anise
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the Clear Broth:
- Generously coat the beef with salt and pepper. Then, warm the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat and sear the meat until the color changes
- Add the onions and garlic to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the water, Better than Bouillon, black peppercorns, ginger slices, and bay leaves; cover and cook for 1 hour until the beef is fork-tender.
- Strain the broth through a mesh strainer into a mixing bowl. Gather the beef and discard the solids. Set the broth aside.
For the Beef:
- Warm the oil in a saute pan and cook the onions until they become translucent and soften, for about 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved beef, 1 cup of the clear broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and star anise. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 15- 20 minutes on low-medium heat.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper. Then, whisk in the cornstarch and simmer until the sauce thickens, for about 5-8 minutes.
- Garnish the beef with scallions and serve it with a small bowl of clear broth.
- Look for brisket with a good amount of marbling. I recommend purchasing the brisket and cutting it yourself rather than buying pre-cut meat.
- Sear the beef in oil to lock in moisture and build the base of flavor for the broth.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Jomelyn Mauermann
Wednesday 27th of September 2023
As a Filipino, I love beef pares! I can't wait to try your recipe, as I have never tried it before, but I love this dish!
Tressa Jamil
Wednesday 27th of September 2023
I love pares, too! Once you try it be sure to come back and let me know what you think.
Karina
Monday 25th of September 2023
I will be making this recipe during soup season for sure. We usually smoke brisket but the thought of having it simmer in all those flavors sounds like the perfect dinner this Fall.
Tressa Jamil
Monday 25th of September 2023
Yes, we usually make brisket in the oven since we don't have a smoker, but this braised brisket is unreal. You have to eat it with garlic fried rice.
Milena
Monday 25th of September 2023
This sounds delicious and easy to make. I think it will be great with mashed potatoes. Definitely will save it for later.
Tressa Jamil
Monday 25th of September 2023
I have never served it with mashed potatoes, but sound like a great idea. You will have to let me know what you think once you've tried it.
Carlos Santos
Friday 26th of May 2023
The braised beef melts in your mouth with all the soy sauce, brown sugar, and spices. The clear beef broth adds a perfect finishing touch.
Tressa Jamil
Friday 26th of May 2023
Melts in your mouth is such a good way to put it! Thank you for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe.
Isabel Ramirez
Friday 26th of May 2023
I prepared Beef Pares for my family and they couldn't get enough! The tender brisket soaked up all the soy sauce, ginger, and star anise. And that clear beef broth? Absolutely heavenly!
Tressa Jamil
Friday 26th of May 2023
Wow, thank you for taking the time to comment. I am so glad you and your family enjoyed the meal. It's a winner when the whole family is happy, right?