Kare Kare is a distinctly Filipino stew that is flavoured and thickened with peanuts. Pronounced “ka-reh ka-reh”, it is thought to have its roots in south east Asian curries. Its combination of flavour and texture is deliciously unusual to the North American palate. I developed this recipe because I needed a way to make this stew with commonly available ingredients. I believe it’s true to the original taste, with a few simplifications for time’s sake (e.g., I decided to use peanut butter rather than a combination of ground peanuts and rice, as well as achuete powder instead of squeezing out annatto seeds in water). Also, I’m not usually a fan of slow cookers, but I didn’t have time to stand over a pot of simmering stew for a few hours. So voila! Here is a version of Kare Kare that can be mostly made in a slow cooker and then finished off on the stove. Enjoy with rice and bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) on the side! Continue reading →