You Have To Try This Spicy Filipino Curry from Mindanao [With Homemade Palapa]

When we think of Filipino cuisine, more often than not we’re quick to mention Tagalog dishes like adobo, sinigang, and bulalo. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Filipino cuisine is as colorful and diverse as the hundreds of indigenous cultures we have all over the country.

Head to the Mountain Provinces and you’ll find a lot of fermented products like etag, tapey, and tengba. Further down the archipelago, dishes pack on a lot more heat and spice.

What is Beef Sinina?

One of the popular dishes from Maguindanao is called the Beef Sinina. Think of it like a spicy beef curry. The highlight of the dish is the palapa, a sweet and spicy Maranao condiment.

You might think that making beef sinina could be complicated to recreate at home, but the ingredients are actually really accessible! You most likely already have the ingredients in your pantry.

Watch the video below to see how to make beef sinina. You can scroll down for the complete recipe if you want to save it for later.

How to Make Beef Sinina

  • 500g beef – cubed striploin
  • 1/2 medium onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 ripe tomatoes
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp spicy palapa
  • 1 half sweet potato
  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1 bunch chives for garnish
 
1. Cube sweet potatoes and carrots into 1 inch cubes. Mince garlic and onion. Cut tomatoes into quarters.
2. Over a hot pan with peanut oil, sear striploin until fat renders. Set aside.
3. In the same pan, add tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add in turmeric and mix until well incorporated. Add in striploin. Pour in coconut milk and mix.
5. Add in palapa to taste. Season and continue to simmer for 20 until the oil starts to separate from the coconut milk.
6. Add in sweet potatoes and carrots, cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or until cooked.
7. Serve and garnish with minced chives.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

How to Use Fish Sauce in Filipino Recipes

How to Make Binakol, A Healthy Filipino Chicken Coconut Soup

Sizzling Bulalo Recipe (Bulalo Steak with Gravy)

Erwan Heussaff
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