Tender beef skewers infused with Sumatran spices, coated in a thick, glossy, spicy golden sauce. Traditionally served with lontong rice cakes, crispy fried shallots, and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Ingredients
- 700 g beef chuck roast
- 500 g lontong or compressed rice cakes
- 8 pieces shallots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 pieces fresh red chiles
- 25 g fresh ginger
- 25 g fresh galangal
- 20 g fresh turmeric
- 4 pieces candlenuts
- 2 pieces lemongrass
- 4 leaves kaffir lime leaves
- 2 leaves dried Indonesian salam leaves
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground fennel
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 tbsp neutral cooking oil
- 50 g rice flour
- 1.2 l water
- 2 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp cane sugar
- 30 g crispy fried shallots
- 1 piece lime
Method
- Blend the shallots, garlic, chiles, ginger, galangal, turmeric, candlenuts, and a splash of water until you get a smooth, vibrant yellow-orange spice paste.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot, add the spice paste, bruised lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and salam leaves, then saute over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes until the oil separates and the raw aroma dissipates.
- Stir in the ground coriander, cumin, fennel, and black pepper, then add the beef chunks and toss to coat until the meat is lightly browned on the outside.
- Pour in the water, add the salt and sugar, bring to a simmer, then cook gently for 55 to 70 minutes until the beef is tender but holds its shape.
- Transfer the beef to a plate to cool slightly, cut into bite-sized pieces, and thread onto soaked wooden skewers; reserve the spiced broth in the pot.
- Whisk the rice flour with a ladleful of warm broth from the pot until smooth, then whisk this slurry back into the simmering broth; cook for 8 to 12 minutes until thick, glossy, and spoon-coating.
- Grill the skewers on a grill pan, flat-top griddle, or under the oven broiler for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and smoky around the edges.
- Warm the lontong, arrange on serving plates or shallow bowls, top with the beef skewers, ladle over plenty of hot sauce, and finish with crispy fried shallots and fresh lime wedges to squeeze over.
Nutrition
Per serving
- Energy
- 530.9 kcal
- Protein
- 25.42 g
- Carbohydrate
- 73.19 g
- Fat
- 16.18 g
- Fibre
- 3.91 g
- Calcium
- 45.83 mg
- Iron
- 2.74 mg
- Magnesium
- 32.61 mg
