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. For another Filipino classic, try my easy Instant Pot arroz caldo!

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.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Olive Oil: Sear the beef brisket and cook the vegetables in olive oil.
• Beef: Select brisket with marbling; the extra fat flavors the broth and helps to tenderize the meat as it braises. You can also use beef short rib.
• Salt + Pepper: Coat the beef with kosher salt and coarse ground pepper.
• Onion: Use white or yellow onions.
• Garlic: I suggest using seven garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
• 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. Crush the peppercorns slightly before adding them for a more intense, peppery taste.
• 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 golden 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 or Asian markets.
• Cornstarch: Thicken the sauce with a small amount of cornstarch to give the beef a perfect glazed finish.

Additions and Substitutions

• Deeply flavor the broth. 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.

If you enjoy beef pares, try more dinner recipes!  

Adobong Manok

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Sudado de Pollo

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 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 2-3 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

More Soup and Stew Recipes:

• Kedjenou
• Beef and Chickpea Stew
• Hamburger Vegetable Soup
• Paya Soup