BULALO (Beef Shank Soup)

Bulalo is a famous soup in Southern Luzon particularly Batangas and Tagaytay,  most of the cattle come from this region. It's a staple of Filipino Celebrations. Due to high cholesterol content, it has once been said that this dish is only good occasionally.  If you are using shank, the marrow is very good but very bad for you. But hey, everything these days is bad for you. If you are indeed using shanks I advise you to eat this dish occasionally. But if you are using the oxtail you can have it as much as you like. I love this dish during the cold season; it is really good with fresh steamed rice and dipping sauce in the side.

Ingredients:

1-3 lbs of beef shanks or oxtail ( I use oxtail every time I make this soup; it has more flavor and the meat is tender and juicy even after simmering a while, unlike the shank; yes the marrow is delicious but the meat around the shank is flavorless and dull)
2 ears of corn, cut into half
2 pcs carrots, cut into 3 chunks (don't bother to peel them,   it gives the soup more color, traditionally we use plantains but since I am in USA, I have opted for the carrots it gives the soup that sweetness that plantain gives)
1 pc russet potato, peeled and cut into large chunks
1/2 bulbs of garlic (don't bother to peel them)
2 bay leaves
6 to 10 peppercorn; crushed with mortar and pestle (important; if you use ground pepper it does not give that strong peppery flavor that these peppercorns give)
1/2 head of cabbage (if you like bokchoy you can substitute cabbage; I just happen to love cabbage because they are sweet)
1 tbsp. fish sauce
1 cup beef broth or 1 beef bullion (if your using bullion dilute the cubes with 1 cup hot water)
1 to 2 cups of water (the water should be slightly above the meat, do not over water it; it would make your soup tasteless)


Procedure:

*In a large heavy dutch oven ( this pan would make your meat tender and  it won't  evaporate the water as fast as regular pan; if you don't have one that's fine just use regular pots but add more water. I highly recommend to get a dutch oven) brown the meat, the juices from this process will  make your soup base, it will also keep your meat intact during the long simmering time.
*Add the onions, garlic, peppercorns, beef broth and water.
*Cover and simmer in low heat for about 1 hr. Do not stir; if you do it will break the meat and it will be all over the soup rather than in one piece. Plus, the convection during the simmering would stir it for you.
*Add the carrots and simmer for another 30 to 45 minutes.
*Add the potatoes and simmer until you are ready to eat.
*Fifteen minutes before you are ready to eat, add the corn (this will make your corn cook but not overcooked, I have often added the corn before simmering and the corn in the end is tasteless and soggy)

*Ten minutes before serving time add the cabbage to half cook it (meaning still has it's crunch); if you want your cabbage cooked thoroughly (which I prefer) add it fifteen minutes before serving time cover and simmer.

Dipping Sauce

1/2 juice of lemon
1 tbsp. fish sauce
2 fresh bird's eye chile chopped

Mix all the ingredients and start dipping!