How To Make Special Filipino Beef Morcon

I first saw morcon when I was in Manila having a Christmas nochue buena at my employer's house. I think beef morcon is one of the traditional holiday specialties of the Tagalogs. A morcon is a rolled beef with various ingredients inside. Actually, I haven't tasted it although it was just in front of me because I was focusing my attention on the home-made embutido which I prefer more because it's made of pork. But my sister said, the morcon was really really yummy.

Here's how to make beef morcon:

Morcon Ingredients:
1 kilo beef, sliced 1/4 inch thick (3 pcs.)
200 grams sliced sausages
200 grams pork fat (sliced into thin strips)
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
100 grams cheddar cheese in strips
9 pcs whole sweet pickles

1 can tomato sauce

2 onions, chopped
5 bay leaf (laurel)
1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
2 teaspoon salt
2 cups of water

2 meters thread or string (for tying)

For beef marinade:

soy sauce

lemon

Beef Morcon Cooking Instructions:

1. Butterfly the beef.
2. Marinate the beef in soy sauce and lemon.
3. Prepare the rest of the ingredients.
4. Spread and stretch the sliced beef on your working table.
5. Lay out the ingredients on the beef: sausage strips, cheese strips, sliced eggs, pork fat and some ground liver.
6. Gently roll the sliced beef with all the filling inside and secure with a thread or string.
7. Repeat the procedure for the two remaining beef slices.
8. Saute some bacon fat for added flavor.
9. Lightly dredge the rolled beef in flour.
10. Fry the beef brown on all sides.
11. Add a can of tomato sauce.
12. Add tomato sauce, water and spices.
13. Simmer until beef softens.
14. Remove the strings.
15. Cut the beef about an inch thick.
16. Serve and Enjoy!

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Here's another How To Make Beef Morcon:

Estimated cooking time: 2 to 3 hours.

Morcon Ingredients:

1 kilo beef, sliced 1/4 inch thick (3 pcs.)
1/4 kilo ground beef liver
200 grams sliced sausages or ham
200 grams pork fat (cut is strips)
3 hard boiled eggs, sliced
100 grams cheddar cheese in strips
100 grams grated cheddar cheese
2 onions, chopped
5 bay leaf (laurel)
1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1/2 cup vinegar
2 teaspoon salt
2 cups of water
2 meters thread or string (for tying)

Beef Morcon Cooking Instructions:

1. Spread and stretch the sliced beef on your working table.
2. Arrange the filling on the sliced beef: sausage strips, cheese strips, sliced eggs, pork fat and some ground liver.
3. Roll the sliced beef with all the filling inside and secure with a thread or string.
4. Repeat the procedure for the two remaining beef slices.
5. On a pot, place the beef rolls and put the water, the remaining ground liver, grated cheese, chopped onions, bay leaves, ground black pepper and salt.
6. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for one hour.
7. Add the vinegar and continue to simmer of another hour or until beef is tender.
8. Slice the beef morcon, arrange on a platter and top with the sauce/ gravy poured on top.

Cooking Tips:

• A spoon or two of flour can be added to water to thicken the sauce.
• Instead of boiling in a pot, you can use a pressure cooker for faster cooking.
• Optional: Garnish with olives before serving.