Tongseng Daging Sapi: A Savory Indonesian Beef Stew
Tongseng Daging Sapi is a delightful Indonesian beef stew that combines tender beef with a medley of aromatic spices and fresh vegetables, creating a flavorful dish that pairs beautifully with steamed rice. This recipe features a harmonious blend of sweet and savory elements, with a touch of heat from red chilies. Perfect for a hearty family meal, Tongseng Daging Sapi is both comforting and satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams beef (sliced thinly)
- 100 grams cabbage (shredded)
- 1 tomato (chopped)
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 clove
- 3 cm cinnamon stick
- Sweet soy sauce (to taste)
- 10 red chilies (bird’s eye chilies, chopped)
- Lemon (juiced)
- Green onions (sliced)
- Ground pepper (to taste)
- Ground coriander (to taste)
- Ground nutmeg (to taste)
- Garlic powder (to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 packet of flavor enhancer (such as Masako)
- Brown sugar (to taste)
- Cooking oil (for frying)
- 700 ml water
For the Spice Paste:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 shallots
- 2 candlenuts
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
- 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric
Instructions:
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Prepare the Beef: Begin by slicing the beef thinly. Rub the beef slices with salt, ground nutmeg, ground pepper, ground coriander, garlic powder, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Allow the beef to marinate for 15 minutes to let the flavors infuse and to eliminate any unpleasant odor.
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Make the Spice Paste: While the beef is marinating, prepare the spice paste. Blend together the garlic, shallots, candlenuts, ginger, and turmeric until smooth. This paste will form the base of your dish’s rich flavor.
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Cook the Spice Paste: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the spice paste and sauté until it becomes aromatic and starts to brown. Add the bay leaves, clove, and cinnamon stick to the pan, and cook for another minute to release their flavors.
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Cook the Beef: Add the marinated beef to the pan with the spice paste. Sauté the beef until it starts to brown and is well-coated with the spices. Pour in the water and bring the mixture to a boil.
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Season the Stew: Once boiling, stir in the brown sugar, sweet soy sauce, flavor enhancer (such as Masako), and ground pepper. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the beef is tender and the liquid has reduced slightly.
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Add the Vegetables: Once the beef is tender, add the chopped red chilies, tomato, sliced green onions, and shredded cabbage. Continue to cook until the vegetables are tender and well incorporated into the stew.
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Adjust Seasonings: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning with salt, additional sweet soy sauce, or more brown sugar if necessary.
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Serve: Remove the stew from heat and serve hot with steamed white rice. For an extra kick of heat, you can sprinkle additional chili powder (Bon Cabe) on top if desired.
Enjoy the rich flavors and comforting warmth of this traditional Indonesian Tongseng Daging Sapi, perfect for any occasion that calls for a hearty and satisfying meal.
