Authentic Indonesian Beef Bone Stew (Semur Balungan Sapi) Recipe

Semur Balungan Sapi (Indonesian Braised Beef Bone Stew)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg beef bones (balung sapi)
• 3 large potatoes
• 1 packet of instant coconut milk
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
• 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal
• 2 stalks of lemongrass
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Salt
• Pepper

Spice Paste:

• 6 shallots
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 7 curly red chilies
• 5 red bird’s eye chilies
• 6 candlenuts
• A pinch of cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander
• Water, as needed
• Cooking oil, as needed

Preparation Steps:

1. Prepare the Beef Bones: Rinse the beef bones thoroughly. Boil the bones until the meat attached to them becomes tender. Save the broth for later use.

2. Prepare the Potatoes: Peel the potatoes, rinse them, and cut them into chunks. Ensure the pieces are not too small or thin to prevent them from disintegrating during cooking.

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3. Make the Spice Paste: Blend or grind the shallots, garlic, curly red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, candlenuts, cumin, and ground coriander into a fine paste. Add a little water if necessary to facilitate blending.

4. Sauté the Spice Paste: Heat some cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the spice paste until fragrant. Add the ginger, galangal, lemongrass, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick. Continue sautéing until the spices release their aroma.

5. Combine Ingredients: Pour in the instant coconut milk and some of the reserved beef bone broth. Stir well to combine.

6. Cook the Potatoes: Add the potato chunks to the pan. Then, add the beef bones. Stir gently to combine. If the liquid level is too low, you can add more beef bone broth or water as needed.

7. Season and Simmer: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) to the mixture until the broth turns a rich, dark color typical of semur. Continue to simmer the stew until it reaches a boil and the potatoes are fully cooked.

8. Final Adjustments: Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Once everything is cooked through and the flavors have melded together, remove from heat.

9. Serve: Transfer the stew to a serving dish and enjoy your delicious Semur Balungan Sapi!

Notes:

• Ensure that the potatoes are not overcooked to maintain their shape and texture.
• Adjust the spiciness by varying the amount of chilies according to your preference.
• The use of sweet soy sauce is crucial in achieving the authentic taste and color of semur.

This hearty Indonesian stew is perfect for a comforting meal, especially when served with steamed rice. Enjoy the rich flavors and tender meat in every bite!