Recette de cuisineHomemade recipes · Hainaut
Favorites
Mechado, slow-cooked beef with tomatoes

Mechado, beef braised in tomato sauce

Main dishes

A hearty beef stew, made with beef cubes in a tomato sauce and vinegar, seasoned with bay leaf, apple, onion, and bell pepper: a classic family dish.

Enlarge photo

Recipe from Yivan000, Urbano, adapted by Recette de cuisine ·

↓ Jump to recipe

Mechado is a popular Filipino family dish: beef, cut into cubes, is simmered with tomato sauce, vinegar, and bay leaves, then joined by potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. The sauce is reduced and thickened with a little oil at the end of cooking.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time20 min
  • Cook time2 hr
  • Total2 hr 20 min
  • DifficultyEasy
  • CostModerate
  • Cooking methodMijotage
  • Estimated cost$23.15 $3.86 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.
  • Gluten-free
  • Low lactose

Ingredients

6 people
  • $19.06
  • $0.16
  • $0.02
  • $0.27
  • $2.04
  • $0.83
  • $0.64
  • $0.13

Prices from US supermarkets for 6 of 8 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. In a saucepan, place the meat, bay leaf, tomato sauce, vinegar, salt, pepper, and enough water. ≈ 3 min
  2. Cover and cook until the meat is tender.
  3. Add the potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. ≈ 3 min
  4. Cook until the root vegetables are tender.
  5. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens slightly.
  6. Add the oil and stir. ≈ 4 min

The bill

Mechado, beef braised in tomato sauce

  • 1 kg of beef, cut into cubes$19.06
  • 120 ml of vinegar$0.16
  • ½ teaspoon of salt$0.02
  • ½ teaspoon of pepper$0.27
  • 6 apples, cut in half$2.04
  • 4 onions$0.83
  • 60 ml of diced bell pepper$0.64
  • 2 tablespoons of oil$0.13

Total$23.15

that's $3.86 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

Affiliate links

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 1 kg of beef, cut into cubes
  • One bay leaf
  • 1 small jar of tomato sauce
  • 120 ml of vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of pepper
  • 6 apples, cut in half
  • 4 onions
  • 60 ml of diced bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of oil

The screen stays on while cooking mode is open.
🎬 Have a video of this recipe? Suggest a YouTube link

Did you film this recipe, or do you know a video that shows it? Axelle watches it before adding it to the page.

Nothing is published before approval.

✏️ A mistake, an idea for this recipe? Suggest a correction

Reviews (0)

Rate this recipe Be the first to rate it!

Your rating