Authentic Indonesian Crispy Beef Empal

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg beef
• Water (as needed)
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 stalks lemongrass, smashed
• 1 piece of galangal, smashed
• Salt, to taste
• Palm sugar, to taste
• 125 ml coconut milk

For the Spice Paste:

• 10 cloves garlic
• 8 shallots
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 5 candlenuts, toasted

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef:
   Begin by boiling the whole piece of beef in a pot of water until it is partially cooked and tender. Once the beef is halfway cooked, remove it from the pot and let it drain. Cut the beef into slices approximately 1 cm thick, following the grain of the meat. Be sure not to cut them too thin, as they will shrink during cooking. Pound the beef slices with a mortar and pestle to tenderize.

2. Cook the Beef:
   Return the beef slices to the pot with the cooking liquid. Add the spice paste, smashed lemongrass, galangal, bay leaves, coconut milk, salt, and palm sugar. Add additional water as needed to ensure the beef is covered. Stir everything together and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and thickened, which will take about 1 hour.

3. Fry the Beef:
   Heat oil in a pan until hot. Fry the cooked beef slices until they are crispy and golden brown. Since the beef is already cooked and tender, be careful not to fry it too long to avoid overcooking.

4. Serve:
   Serve the crispy Empal Daging Sapi hot, alongside steamed rice and sambal goreng for a truly delightful Indonesian meal. Enjoy this savory, aromatic dish that’s sure to impress with its rich flavors and satisfying texture.

Enjoy your Empal Daging Sapi Mantap! 🌟