Hearty Oxtail Soup with Fresh Vegetables – A Comforting Indonesian Delight

Ingredients

• 1 kg oxtail or beef, thoroughly cleaned
• 2 large potatoes, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 4 large celery stalks, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• Water

Seasoning A:

• 8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1/2 nutmeg

Seasoning B:

• 1 tbsp margarine or cooking oil for sautéing
• 1 onion, cut into 8 pieces and separated
• 5 cardamom pods
• 10 cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks, each 5 cm in length
• Instant broth powder (to taste)
• Salt
• 5 shallots, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat: Start by placing the oxtail or beef in a pot and covering it with clean water. Bring the water to a boil, then remove the pot from the heat. Discard the boiling water, rinse the meat under running water to clean it thoroughly.

2. Second Boil: Clean the pot and refill it with fresh water. Add the cleaned oxtail or beef back into the pot. Simmer over low heat with the pot covered.

3. Sauté the Spices: In a separate pan, heat the margarine or oil. Add the ingredients from Seasoning B and sauté until fragrant. Incorporate Seasoning A into the pan, stirring and sautéing until everything is well cooked. Use a low heat to avoid burning the spices.

4. Combine and Simmer: Once the spices are cooked, transfer them into the pot with the simmering oxtail or beef. Continue to cook until the meat becomes tender.

5. Add Vegetables: Introduce the chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, and green onions into the pot. Continue to cook until the vegetables are soft. Season with salt and adjust to taste.

6. Adjust the Broth: If the broth reduces too much, add more hot water as needed. Keep simmering over low heat with the pot covered until all the vegetables are tender.

7. Serve: Once everything is cooked to perfection, remove from heat and serve the soup hot. Pair with traditional rice cakes for an authentic experience.

Enjoy this hearty and flavorful beef or oxtail soup, perfect for a comforting meal any day of the week.