Dish of Beef Dry Curry
(click to enlarge)

Beef Rendang


Indonesia, Padang   -   Rendang Daging
Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 1-3/4 #
****
3-1/2 hrs
Yes		 Long cooking, but durable, this dish can be made days ahead and improves with reheating. It can be served at room temperature as an appetizer. In Indonesia it is often made in quantity and served over several days.

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Beef lean (1)
-- Bumbu Paste
Galangal (2)
Ginger root
Lemon Grass
Shallots
Garlic
Chili, red (3)
Peppercorns blk
-- Finish
Oil
Coconut Cream (4)  
Makrut Leaf (5)
Salam Leaf (6)
Turmeric Leaf (7)
Cinnamon Stick
Palm Sugar
Salt
-- Garnish
Bumbu Paste   -   (1-1/4 hrs)
  1. Slice GALANGAL thin and chop small. Slice GINGER thin and chop small. Strip tough outer leaves from LEMON GRASS, cut off white 1/3 and crush it, then slice crosswise fine.
  2. Cut SHALLOTS in half lengthwise and slice crosswise thin. Crush GARLIC and chop fine. Remove seed mass from Chilis and chop small.
  3. Grind all Bumbu items to a moderately coarse paste, starting with Galangal and working down the list. I use an Indian Mixie, but a good food processor will work - you may need a little of the Coconut Cream to keep it grinding - or you can spend an hour scrubbing with an Indonesian style mortar and pestle.
Prep   -   (10 min)
  1. Cut BEEF into bite size chunks.
  2. Bruise MAKRUT LEAVES.
Run   -   (2-1/2 hrs)
  1. In a wok, Heat OIL over moderately high heat and fry Bumbo Paste stirring until fragrant.
  2. Stir in Beef and all Finish items. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to a strong simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring often and scraping up the pan.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering for another hour stirring often and scraping up the pan.
  4. At this point, oil may have started to separate from the Coconut cream, depending on the coarseness of your Bumbu. Whether it does or does not, continue frying, tumbling and scraping until the Beef is very dark brown, probably another 20 to 30 minutes, then remove from the heat
  5. Serve warm or at room temperature.
NOTES:

  1. Beef:

      Tougher cuts such as Round will work fine here.

  2. Galangal

      This relative of ginger imparts a unique flavor to Southeast Asian soups and stews. Fresh is best but frozen is fine - dried and powdered not so much. If you don't have it, use fresh Ginger Root - not at all the same, but something. This root is hard as a board, so it takes strength to deal with. For details see our Galangal page.

  3. Chili, Fresh Red:

      Around here we all use Red Ripe Fresnos, but other medium hot red chilis, such as Holland Red will work. For details see our Thai / Asian Chilis page.

  4. Coconut Cream

      There are several good brands from Thailand available in Asian markets or on-line. Two boxes of the one I use don't quite make 2 cups, so I add an 8oz can of Aroy-D Coconut Milk which has plenty of Cream. You can also make this recipe with 4 cups of a good thick Coconut Milk, like Aroy-D. Non-Thai brands are often disappointing.

  5. Makrut (Kaffir) Lime Leaves:

      These come 2 leaves to a stem, so this recipe needs 2 stems (unless one of the leaves on your stems is quite small). For details see our Makrut Lime page. If you don't have them, grate the zest of a lime.

  6. Salam Leaf:

      (Daun Salam) These can be had dried on-line and in some Asian markets. Despite what many recipes say, regular Bay Leaves are not a good substitute. Better to add a couple extra Makrut leaves, or some Curry leaves, or leave them out. unique to Indonesian and Malaysian cooking. The nearest substitute is Curry Leaf, but it's not real close. For details see our Daun Salam page.

  7. Turmeric Leaf:

      Even I don't have this, and the roots in the produce markets have been treated so they don't sprout. I'll have to get some untreated roots. No substitute, so just leave them out.

  8. Comments:

      This was probably originally a method for preserving Beef or Buffalo. Originating from Padang in western Sumatra, it is now made all over Indonesia, and is one of the countries most famous dishes. Rendangs are also made with other ingredients, but beef is the most common. After making this recipe your wok will need a long soak. I put in water and Comet Cleanser and leave it on the stove at just below a simmer.
  9. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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