Rendang: The secret of a traditional Indonesian dish

Rendang is a traditional and popular Indonesian dish originating from Indonesia, specifically the Sumatra region. It is known for its rich taste and spicy sauce.

This recipe will introduce you to Rendang: rich flavor, long cooking time, beef and spicy sauce. This is a great experience of Indonesian cuisine.

Rendang stands out due to its rich and complex flavor profile, which it acquires through the combination of many different spices and herbs. The most commonly used spices include turmeric, coriander, cumin, cloves, allspice, garlic, ginger, and chili. Together, these spices create a deep and aromatic sauce that permeates the meat during cooking.

Traditional Rendang is prepared with beef, usually beef neck or shoulder. This meat is cooked for a long time on low heat until it is tender and absorbs all the spicy flavors from the sauce.

Rendang sauce usually has a coconut base and a thick consistency. Coconut milk together with spices and herbs creates a sauce full of flavors and textures. During cooking, the sauce thickens and acquires a consistency similar to meat sauce.

One of the key elements of Rendang preparation is its long cooking time. The meat is cooked over low heat for up to several hours to achieve tenderness and for all the flavors and spices to combine perfectly.

Rendang has a distinct taste that is sweet and spicy at the same time. This unique combination of flavors is characteristic of Indonesian cuisine and has won the hearts of gourmets around the world.

Rendang is often served with rice and can be topped with a variety of ingredients such as pickled vegetables or crispy potatoes. This dish is popular not only in Indonesia, but also in many other parts of the world, and offers an unbeatable gastronomic experience to all who taste it.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of beef (preferably beef neck or shoulder), cut into pieces
• 2 spoons of oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 hot peppers, chopped (you can adjust the amount according to your preference)
• 2 cm pieces of fresh ginger
• 2 cm pieces of fresh turmeric (or 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder)
• 2 cm pieces of galangal (if available) - optional
• 2 lemon leaves (kaffir lime), if available
• 2 cloves
• 2 balls of allspice
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon tamarind paste (or lemon juice)
• 400 ml of coconut milk
• Salt to taste

Direction :

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the onion, garlic, chillies, ginger, turmeric (or turmeric powder) and galangal (if using) until fragrant.
2. Add the beef and sear until heated through on all sides.
3. Add lemon leaves, cloves, allspice, coriander seeds and cumin seeds. Stir for about a minute until the spices are fragrant.
4. Add sugar and tamarind paste (or lemon juice) and mix.
5. Gradually add the coconut milk, slowly while stirring.
6. Season with salt and as per taste you can add more sugar or tamarind paste to balance the taste.
7. Cook the dish on low heat for at least 2-3 hours, until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens.
8. Serve Rendang with rice and enjoy this rich and aromatic Indonesian dish.

This Rendang recipe is spicy and full of flavors that you are sure to love. Pleasant taste!