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Spicy Beef Rendang is a flavorful Indonesian dish that features tender beef simmered in a rich, spicy coconut milk sauce. Here's a recipe for you:
Ingredients
For the Beef and Marinade:
- 2 lbs (900 g) beef chuck or stewing beef, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 tbsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
For the Spice Paste:
- 10-12 dried red chilies, soaked in hot water until soft
- 6 shallots, peeled
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal, peeled
- 2 stalks lemongrass, white part only, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
For the Rendang:
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cans (14 oz each) coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 3 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces
- 2 turmeric leaves, tied into a knot (optional)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Marinating the Beef:
- In a large bowl, combine the beef cubes, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix well to coat the beef evenly. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Making the Spice Paste:
- Drain the soaked chilies and place them in a blender or food processor. Add shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, ground coriander, and ground cumin. Blend until smooth, adding a little water if necessary to facilitate blending.
Cooking the Rendang:
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the spice paste and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the paste is fragrant and the oil begins to separate from the paste.
- Add the marinated beef to the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring to coat the beef with the spice paste.
- Pour in the coconut milk and water, and add the kaffir lime leaves, turmeric leaves (if using), cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened and darkened, stirring occasionally. Add more water if necessary to prevent drying out.
- Stir in the tamarind paste and palm sugar, and season with salt to taste. Continue to simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes until the flavors meld together and the sauce is rich and thick.
Serving:
- Serve the beef rendang with steamed rice and garnish with additional kaffir lime leaves if desired.
Enjoy your delicious Spicy Beef Rendang!