beef rendang

Name: Beef Rendang
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 pound(s) chuck steak, cut into large cubes (about golf-ball size); 1 tablespoon(s) cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or canola); 1 - cinnamon stick; 3 - whole cloves; 3 - star anise; 3 - cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder); 1 - lemongrass stick (bottom half only), smashed with back of spoon to release flavor; 14 ounce(s) can coconut milk; 2 teaspoon(s) tamarind puree (or 2 tsp lemon juice + 1 tsp sugar); 6 - kafir lime leaves, finely sliced; 6 tablespoon(s) unsweeted coconut, shredded or flaked; 1 tablespoon(s) brown sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt; ## SPICE PASTE:; 12 - dried chilies, soaked in boiling water and deseeded (or 6 fresh red chilies, deseeded and chopped); 6 - shallots, chopped; 3 - lemongrass stalks (white party only), sliced; 5 clove(s) garlic, coarsely chopped; 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) fresh galangal, chopped; 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) fresh ginger, chopped; 2 tablespoon(s) cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or canola); ## OPTIONAL SIDE DISH; 6 - servings of coconut rice (optional, but recommended)

(2 RATINGS)

9 Pinches

Vickie Parks

Renton, WA

Updated on Jan 20, 2016

Beef Rendang is an extravagant dish from Indonesia (West Sumatra) but is also served in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and southern Philippines. It’s easy to make but requires patience because it must cook slowly in order for the flavors to fully develop. It can be made in a slow cooker though that’s not recommended because the dish won’t develop the depth of flavor or rich color from the caramelization that you'll get from stovetop cooking. In 2011, Beef Rendang was listed among the world’s 50 most delicious foods. It's a dry curry, so it won't be exceptionally saucy.

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prep time 20 Min

cook time 3 Hr

method Stove Top

yield 6 serving(s)

Ingredients

2 pounds chuck steak, cut into large cubes (about golf-ball size)
1 tablespoon cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or canola)
1 - cinnamon stick
3 - whole cloves
3 - star anise
3 - cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder)
1 - lemongrass stick (bottom half only), smashed with back of spoon to release flavor
14 ounces can coconut milk
2 teaspoons tamarind puree (or 2 tsp lemon juice + 1 tsp sugar)
6 - kafir lime leaves, finely sliced
6 tablespoons unsweeted coconut, shredded or flaked
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
SPICE PASTE:
12 - dried chilies, soaked in boiling water and deseeded (or 6 fresh red chilies, deseeded and chopped)
6 - shallots, chopped
3 - lemongrass stalks (white party only), sliced
5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh galangal, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
2 tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or canola)
OPTIONAL SIDE DISH
6 - servings of coconut rice (optional, but recommended)

How To Make beef rendang

Step 1

Place Spice Paste ingredients in a small food processor and pulse until fine and thoroughly blended.

Step 2

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, heavy stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add Spice Paste, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamon pods. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the spice paste.
Step 3

Increase heat to high. Add beef and sear, stirring to sear all sides of each piece of beef until they are dark brown (the deep color from the sear will contribute to the color of the curry). Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, then immediately reduce heat to low or medium low, so the sauce is bubbling very gently. Place lid on the pot and let it to simmer for 1½ to 2 hours.
Step 4

Remove lid and check the beef to see how tender it is. You don't want it to be "fall apart at a touch" at this stage. If it is, remove the beef from the pot before proceeding.
Step 5

Increase heat to medium and let sauce simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to reduce it to a thick sauce that coats the beef cubes. Watch carefully at this stage because you don't want the sauce to burn. (It's a dry curry so it won't be excessively saucy; instead, the concentrated flavor of the curry should be more like a thick paste that coats the beef cubes.)
Step 6

By this stage, the beef should be "fall apart at a touch" tender. Remove from heat, and serve immediately. It's best when served with Coconut Rice.
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