A Healthier ‘Kaldereta’ For You! Check This Recipe

Kaldereta could be seen served at Filipino special occasions and restaurants, most likely because most Filipinos find it such a treat. Plus it’s quite laborious to make it because it takes a while to tenderize the meat. Good thing the vegan version cuts the cooking time in half.

Kaldereta is traditionally enjoyed with a bowl of rice so the stew is cooked slightly more savory and salty. Luckily, you can also veganize it so you can eat healthy. Take a look!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cut in strips
• 3 red potatoes, quartered
• 1 can tomato sauce
• ½ cup vegetable broth (or 1 ½ vegetable bouillon)
• ¼ cup vegan cheddar cheese
• 2 cups Shiitake mushrooms (pureed using a grinder, blender, or food processor) (Baby Bella mushrooms would work too if Shiitake is not available)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 3 tbsp sweet pickle relish
• 4-6 tablespoons broth from the green olives
• 4-6 hot Chili pepper, crushed (or more to make it spicier)
• 3-6 pieces dried Bay leaves
• 2 pinches of red salt or sea salt
• 2-3 carrot sticks, cut in big chunks
• 1 pack or 1 cup of Enoki mushrooms
• 1 pack fried tofu, cut in chunks (or Seitan)
• ¼ cup green olives or Spanish olives
• pinch of Black Truffle salt (as finishing) (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium pot, sauté the garlic with oil until fragrant.
2. Add the onions and tomatoes.
3. After sautéing for about 5 minutes, add the bell pepper, potatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth or bouillon. Cover and simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are tender. Mix occasionally so the bottom sauce won’t stick to the pot.
4. Mix in the vegan cheddar cheese until it’s completely melted.
5. Pour the mushroom puree, soy sauce, broth from the olives, and sweet relish. Mix well and add the red salt, hot chili pepper and Bay leaves.
6. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Adjust to taste. Keep in mind this would be eaten with rice so it’s okay if it’s more to the savory-salty side. However, if you want it less salty, you may add more tomato sauce.
7. Add the carrots, fried tofu (or Seitan), Enoki mushrooms, and green olives. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes or until boiling. Turn off the heat.
8. Sprinkle Black Truffle Salt before serving.
9. Serve with a side of warm rice. Enjoy!

Source: ASTIG Vegan