Afritada, Mechado, Kaldereta: What’s the difference?

Afritada, Mechado, and Kalderta are three too-similar Filipino dishes that confuse even Filipinos. 

Unang Hirit on Tuesday decided to settle the score. Calling on chefs from the superb LGC Group of Restaurants, the morning show demonstrated the difference.

Afritada —derived from the Spanish word ‘fritada’ meaning to fry —  features chicken in pure tomato sauce, and embellished by carrots, potatoes and bell pepper.

Mechado meanwhile has either pork or beef in tomato sauce, plus vinegar, soy sauce, carrots and potatoes. It comes from the Spanish word ‘mechar,’ which means to put oil.

And finally, caldereta: It has beef in tomato sauce and liver spread with carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper. By the way, caldereta comes from the Spanish word ‘caldera,’ meaning cauldron.

— LA, GMA News