Chef John's Beef Rendang

Chef John's Beef Rendang

Galangal, peppers, coconut milk, lemongrass, and lots of spices are simmered with beef chuck to make the dry, concentrated Indonesian curry known as beef rendang.

Preparation Time
25 mins
Cooking Time
4 hr 5 mins
Total Time
4 hr 30 mins
Calories
380 Calories

Recipe Instructions

Step 1
Cut beef chuck into 2-inch pieces.
Step 2
Combine shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, serrano and Fresno chiles, salt, red pepper flakes, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, and nutmeg in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until paste is very finely ground, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
Step 3
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the curry paste. Cook and stir until it starts to dry out, then stir in the beef. Add coconut milk, tamarind paste, and brown sugar. Stir to combine. Fill up the empty can of coconut milk with water and pour it into the pan. Increase heat to medium-high; bring to a simmer.
Step 4
In the meantime, bruise lemongrass with the back of your knife. Cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces and add to the curry. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beef is fork-tender and sauce is fully reduced, about 4 hours. Stir more frequently as water reduces; add more water or lower the heat if sauce is reducing faster than beef is softening.
Step 5
Remove lemongrass to serve. For best results, let cool and serve the next day.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons tamarind paste
  • 1 (14 ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 4 shallots, sliced
  • 1 (1 1/2 inch) piece ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 2 serrano chile peppers - stemmed, seeded, and sliced
  • 1 Fresno chile pepper - stemmed, seeded, and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Korean red pepper flakes
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 0.125 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 0.125 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2.5 pounds beef chuck
  • 1.5 inch piece galangal, peeled and sliced
  • 0.5 stalk lemongrass, light part

Categories

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