Chef John's Beef Rendang

The sauce in this amazing Indonesian curry might be invisible, but you'll know it's there. As it reduces, the water evaporates, leaving behind the fat and flavor that make this dish so unique and addictive. Originally, cooking meat this way helped preserve it in hot and humid Indonesia. Turns out, people continued making it long after refrigeration came around. Serve with steamed rice, garnished with cilantro and lime if desired.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 4 hr
• Total Time: 4 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 380 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 6 cloves garlic
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons tamarind paste
• 2 ½ pounds beef chuck
• 1 (14 ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
• 4 shallots, sliced
• 1 (1 1/2 inch) piece ginger, peeled and sliced
• 1 ½ inch piece galangal, 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
• ½ stalk lemongrass, light part

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.