Indonesian Spiced Beef Heart Stew (Semur Jantung Sapi)

Semur Jantung Sapi Recipe

Semur Jantung Sapi is a flavorful Indonesian beef heart stew, rich with aromatic spices and savory ingredients. This recipe combines tender beef heart with a blend of spices, sweet soy sauce, and optional ingredients for a dish that’s both unique and satisfying. Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing this delicious dish.

Ingredients

• 1/5 kg (approximately 0.5 lb) beef heart, cleaned and cut into pieces
• For the Spice Paste:
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 4 shallots
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 4 cloves (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Nutmeg, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 cm fresh ginger
  • 2 candlenuts
• Additional Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon teriyaki sauce
  • Royco seasoning, to taste
  • 1 piece palm sugar
  • Sweet soy sauce, to taste
  • MSG (optional), to taste
  • White sugar, to taste
  • 500 ml water (or adjust based on the amount of beef heart)
  • 1 onion (size to be estimated)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons Del Monte barbecue sauce
  • (Optional) 4 small green chilies, sliced

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef Heart:

   Related Articles

   • 
     Savory Sweet Soy Beef Bistik with Sautéed Onions
   • 
     Sizzling Beef with Scallions and Chili
   • 
     Indonesian Tongseng Sapi: Spicy Beef Stew with Coconut and Cabbage
   • 
     Indonesian Spicy Beef Penyetan with Aromatic Sambal
   • Cut the beef heart into bite-sized pieces. Rub the pieces with Del Monte barbecue sauce and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

2. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Using a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind the garlic, shallots, coriander seeds, white pepper, cloves, salt, nutmeg, cumin seeds, ground ginger (or fresh ginger), and candlenuts into a smooth paste.

3. Cook the Aromatics:

   • Slice the onion and set aside. Heat a bit of oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the spice paste and sauté until fragrant and the raw smell of the candlenuts disappears.

4. Add the Beef Heart:

   • Add the sliced onion to the pot and cook until it becomes translucent. Next, add the marinated beef heart pieces and stir to combine.

5. Simmer the Stew:

   • Pour in the water, making sure the beef heart is submerged. Stir in the teriyaki sauce, palm sugar, sweet soy sauce, Royco seasoning, and MSG (if using). If you prefer more heat, add the sliced green chilies at this stage.

6. Cook Until Tender:

   • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently until the beef heart is tender and the flavors have melded together. This may take about 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the beef heart pieces and your desired consistency of the sauce.

7. Final Adjustments:

   • Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more salt, sugar, or soy sauce if desired.

8. Serve:

   • Once the stew has thickened to your liking and the beef heart is tender, it’s ready to be served. Enjoy this rich and aromatic dish with steamed rice or your choice of side.

This Semur Jantung Sapi is a comforting and hearty meal, perfect for a special occasion or a satisfying weeknight dinner. Enjoy the depth of flavors and the tender texture of the beef heart in this traditional Indonesian stew.