Indonesian Braised Eggs and Potatoes in Sweet Soy Sauce

Semur Telur & Kentang: A Delightful Indonesian Braised Egg and Potato Dish

Semur Telur & Kentang is a comforting and flavorful Indonesian dish featuring hard-boiled eggs and tender potatoes in a rich, sweet-savory sauce. This classic recipe combines aromatic spices with the richness of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), creating a dish that is both satisfying and delicious. Here’s how you can make this delightful dish at home.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), to taste
• Palm sugar (gula merah), to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 bay leaves (daun salam)
• Water, as needed

For the Spice Paste (Bumbu Halus):

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 shallots, peeled
• 2 candlenuts (kemiri)
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, bruised

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Eggs:

   • Place the eggs in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook the eggs for about 10 minutes until they are hard-boiled. Once done, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool. Once cooled, peel the eggs and set them aside.

2. Cook the Potatoes:

   • Heat a bit of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the cubed potatoes and cook until they start to turn golden and are partially cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Make the Spice Paste:

   • In a food processor or mortar and pestle, blend together the garlic, shallots, candlenuts, and ginger into a smooth paste.

4. Sauté the Spice Paste:

   • In the same pan used for the potatoes, add a bit more oil if needed. Sauté the spice paste along with the bruised ginger and bay leaves until fragrant and the paste has turned golden brown.

5. Combine Ingredients:

   • Add enough water to the pan to create a sauce base. Stir well to combine with the sautéed spice paste. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

6. Add the Potatoes:

   • Return the partially cooked potatoes to the pan. Let them cook in the sauce until they are halfway tender.

7. Add the Eggs:

   • Gently place the peeled eggs into the pan with the potatoes. Allow the eggs to simmer with the potatoes, absorbing the flavors.

8. Season the Dish:

   • Add palm sugar, salt, sweet soy sauce, and ground black pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed and stir well.

9. Simmer and Serve:

   • Let the dish simmer until the potatoes are fully cooked and tender, and the sauce has thickened and infused the flavors into the eggs and potatoes.

10. Finish:

    • Once the flavors are well combined and the dish is to your liking, remove from heat. Serve warm with steamed rice or as part of a larger Indonesian meal.

Enjoy your homemade Semur Telur & Kentang, a hearty and flavorful dish that brings a touch of Indonesian cuisine to your table!