What is Pares: A Comprehensive Guide What is Pares: A Comprehensive Guide

What is Pares: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover what is Pares, a traditional Filipino dish that pairs flavorful beef stew with garlic fried rice. Learn about its origin, ingredients, and where to find it.

What is Pares?

Pares is a traditional Filipino dish that has captured the hearts and taste buds of many across the Philippines and beyond. Characterized by its flavorful beef stew, this delicacy is often paired with garlic fried rice and a bowl of beef soup.

Origin of Pares

The term pares literally means “pairs” in Filipino, referring to the combination of beef stew and fried rice. This dish originated from Manila street food culture and quickly gained popularity for its savory and comforting qualities.

Ingredients and Preparation

Pares is typically made using the following ingredients:

  • Beef brisket
  • Soy sauce
  • Sugar
  • Star anise
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper
  • Rice (for the garlic fried rice)

The beef is typically simmered for hours to achieve a tender texture, enriched with a blend of sweet and savory flavors due to the soy sauce and star anise. The garlic fried rice complements the stew perfectly, resulting in the delightful combination known as pares.

Why is Pares Popular?

There are several reasons why pares has become a staple in Filipino cuisine:

Affordability: Pares is considered an affordable yet satisfying meal, making it a popular choice among locals.

Flavor: The unique combination of sweet and savory, with a hint of spice from the star anise, makes it a flavorful dish that appeals to many.

Accessibility: With many vendors specializing in this dish, it’s easy to find pares in bustling food markets and street corners.

Positive and Negative Aspects

Like any dish, pares has its positive and negative aspects.

Positive Aspects:

  • Affordable and accessible.
  • Rich in flavor and can be enjoyed by a wide audience.
  • Comforting and filling, ideal for a hearty meal.

Negative Aspects:

  • High in sodium due to soy sauce, which may not be suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
  • The dish’s preparation can be time-consuming, requiring precise simmering to achieve the desired tenderness of the beef.

Where to Find Pares

If you’re looking to try pares, here are some common places where you can find this delightful dish:

  • Local street food vendors
  • Filipino restaurants
  • Food markets and food courts
Disclaimer: This article was prepared with the assistance of an AI language model to ensure timely and relevant information. While AI helps enhance the reliability and accuracy of the content, it is based on the data available up to the training cut-off and may not include the most recent developments. For the most accurate and comprehensive understanding, we recommend further verification from reliable sources. Please note that this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or encouragement to engage in any dangerous activities.