Afritada is another popular tomato-based stew that uses bell pepper, carrot, potato, and tomato sauce and/or tomatoes. 

It is similar to Kaldereta which uses these ingredients too, but most Afritada recipes don’t use liver spread and cheese. Chicken is popularly associated with Afritada, but some recipes also use beef or pork. A vegetarian or vegan version can be easily made by replacing meats with tofu, or other plant-based proteins.

Like Kaldereta, the name Afritada is from a Spanish word. Fritada means fry in Spanish, possibly referring to the roasting or braising process of the meat. 

What is in your favorite kamatis-based Filipino stews?

Artprint on Society6: https://society6.com/product/afritada-recipe-art_print

What’s the difference between Afritada, Kaldereta, Mechado, and Menudo?

First, what is usually the same?

4 basic ingredients connect the four stews: tomatoes and/or tomato sauce, potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. Though potatoes and tomato sauce are the most common denominators.

Also, the four dishes have Spanish colonial influence, from the names, ingredients, to the methods of cooking. Mechado has roots in the “mecha” or “wick” of fat used to make tough beef succulent, though the method is used less and less nowadays. Menudo might be from the Spanish word for tiny, but the dish brought over due to colonization might have been a Mexican Menudo.

There are also many other tomato-based dishes such as Pochero, Escabeche, and even Filipino Spaghetti. These stews are so rich in flavor, even vegetable or vegan recipes abound.

And though the debates continue, it means that cooks and chefs are making their own renditions. Together we make these uniquely Filipino stews better and better… and always best for the times, for friends, family, and festivity.

Venn diagram artprint on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1227518945/kaldereta-afritada-mechado-menudo