Which Origin Theory Do You Believe?
Kare Kare is one of the Philippines’s signature dishes that speaks of the country’s history and the culture’s acceptance of foreign influences. Learn the kare kare history and its possible origins:
Kare Kare History: The Dish & The Origin Stories
What is Kare Kare?
Essentially, kare kare is an oxtail peanut stew. You can also find tripe and other beef cuts in the stew alongside vegetables like eggplants, long green beans, and banana blossoms. Sometimes, there are also seafood versions.
The stew is braised with beef broth, peanuts, and annatto seeds for color. Often, bagoong, or shrimp paste, is the condiment. And, always, the dish is served with steamed white rice.
Theory 1: Moro Origins
Chronologically, one theory of kare kare’s origins points to the Moros, which pre-dates any colonists in the country. Some food historians believe that Moros, or the Arab traders, brought this braised beef stew with them when they settled in the country in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Theory 2: Indian Origins
One of the most popular origin stories for kare kare points to the province of Pampanga, just north of Manila. The port of Pampanga was the entry for foreign trade and settlers into Manila.
Just prior to the arrival of the Spaniard’s 500-year colonization, the British colonized the Philippines for 2 years, from 1762 to 1764. When they left, many Indian soldiers remained and assimilated to the country.
Localized Indians began to use what they could to create meals that reminded them of home, including a saucy dish of vegetables with spices and coconut milk called kaikaari, shortened to kaari. Because of the lack of spices, it is believed that they used peanuts and annatto instead and added oxtails for a more substantial dish.
Theory 3: Portuguese & African Origins
Because there is no definitive origin story, one can also evaluate the history of the ingredients and the cultures that left their marks in the country.
The earliest component of kare kare is the bagoong sauce. This condiment existed in Southeast Asia since the 8th century as a means of shrimp preservation and flavoring.
The biggest key in this dish is the peanuts. Looking outside the Philippines, you can find peanut satay sauce in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Farther westward, there is also a beef peanut stew from Senegal and a chicken peanut stew from West Africa that includes cabbage, okra, and eggplant.
So, now, this is where it gets interesting.
Peanuts originated in South America. The Spaniards and Portuguese this back, as well as an abundance of other crops, to Europe. From there, Portuguese traders brought peanuts and other crops to Asia.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in many Asian countries, like in Malaysia in 1511, Indonesia in 1515, the Philippines in 1521, and Japan in 1543.
It is important to remember that it was not only the Portuguese and their crops and goods in these boats. They also brought with them their crew and servants. Portugal had colonies in West Africa at the time, so it would be easy to assume that West Africans were also among the men on these boats.
Therefore, another origin theory of kare kare can also conclude that the dish has West African origins.
With all these 3 theories, which do you believe to be truest?
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