Spicy Indonesian Beef and Quail Egg Delight

Puyuh Sapi Mercon Recipe

Ingredients:

• 250 grams ground beef
• 30 quail eggs
• 2 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 stalk lemongrass, halved
• 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal, smashed
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, smashed
• Cooking oil, as needed
• Salt, to taste

For the Spice Paste:

• 20 red chilies
• 20 bird’s eye chilies
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
• 1/4 thumb-sized piece of turmeric
• 1 roasted candlenut
• 5 garlic cloves
• 3 shallots
• Black pepper (optional; omit if you prefer a less spicy dish)

For Slicing:

• 1/4 onion, finely chopped
• 5 bird’s eye chilies, sliced diagonally
• 2 red chilies, sliced diagonally
• 1 large tomato, sliced (to be added towards the end of cooking)

Essential:

• A pinch of love and patience

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Blend or grind the spice paste ingredients (red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, ginger, turmeric, roasted candlenut, garlic, shallots, and optional black pepper) with a pinch of salt until smooth.

2. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the spice paste and sauté until fragrant.
   • Add the kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and bay leaf, continuing to sauté until aromatic.

3. Add the Beef:

   • Incorporate the ground beef into the pan. Cook until the beef releases its juices and starts to brown.

4. Simmer:

   • Once the beef is partially cooked and the juices have reduced, add approximately 250 ml of water.
   • Introduce the quail eggs to the pan.

5. Cook Thoroughly:

   • Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened. Adjust the seasoning with salt to taste.

6. Add Final Touches:

   • About 5 minutes before finishing, stir in the sliced tomato. Mix well.

7. Final Adjustments:

   • Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. This recipe does not require MSG or additional sugar.

8. Serve:

   • Once the dish has reached your desired consistency and the flavors have melded together, remove from heat.

9. Enjoy and Share:

   • Garnish as desired and serve hot. Don’t forget to share your recreations with us!

Feel free to adjust the level of spiciness to suit your taste by omitting or adding more chilies. Enjoy your cooking adventure with this flavorful Indonesian dish!