Indonesian Spicy Beef Stew (Iso Sapi Gongso)

Iso Sapi Gongso: A Flavorful Indonesian Beef Delight

Ingredients:

• 400 grams of beef (iso sapi)
• 6 bay leaves (daun salam)
• 6 kaffir lime leaves (daun jeruk)
• 1 lime, juiced
• 6 red curly chilies (cabe keriting merah)
• 3 red bird’s eye chilies (cabe rawit merah)
• 6 candlenuts (kemiri)
• 6 garlic cloves (bawang putih)
• 6 shallots (bawang merah)
• Salt to taste
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) to taste
• 200 mL warm water
• 300 mL water for boiling the beef

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Beef:

   • Rinse the beef thoroughly and cut it into 1 cm pieces.

2. Cook the Beef:

   • In a pot, add the beef along with 300 mL of water, 3 bay leaves, 3 kaffir lime leaves, and the juice of 1 lime.
   • Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. After cooking, remove the beef and discard the cooking water.

3. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Blend the salt, candlenuts, garlic, shallots, 4 red curly chilies, and 3 red bird’s eye chilies into a smooth paste.

4. Sauté the Spice Paste:

   • Heat a little oil in a pan and sauté the spice paste along with 3 bay leaves and 3 kaffir lime leaves until fragrant.

5. Combine and Simmer:

   • Add the cooked beef to the pan and include 2 additional red curly chilies, sliced diagonally.
   • Stir well to coat the beef with the spices. Pour in the sweet soy sauce and stir to combine.
   • Add 200 mL of warm water, reduce the heat, and simmer until the liquid has reduced and the beef is well-coated with the sauce.

6. Adjust Seasoning:

   • Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or sweet soy sauce if needed.

7. Serve:

   • Once the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened, remove from heat.
   • Serve the Iso Sapi Gongso hot, accompanied by steaming white rice for a delightful meal.

This richly spiced beef dish combines the savory flavors of Indonesian cuisine with the aromatic influence of bay leaves and kaffir lime leaves, offering a memorable culinary experience.