Beef rendang & turmeric rice

Beef rendang

Name: Beef rendang
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 2kg beef shin or skirt, cut into bite-sized cubes; 2 lemongrass stalks, bashed (see 'Tip' for how to prepare); 2 x 400ml cans coconut milk; 4 tbsp desiccated coconut; 2 kaffir lime leaves torn; 1 ½ tbsp chicken stock powder (we used one from an Asian supermarket); 2 tbsp tamarind paste; 1 tsp golden caster sugar; ¼ tsp salt; 15 dry chillies; 6-8 baby shallots; thumb-sized piece ginger chopped; thumb-sized piece galangal peeled and chopped (use ginger if you can’t find it); 3 lemongrass stalks, chopped; 2 tbsp oil; 2 tsp mustard seeds; 2 tsp turmeric; 10 curry leaves (optional); 700g jasmine rice; 2 tsp chicken stock powder

Good Food team

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Serves 6

Easy

Prep: 40 mins

Cook: 2 hrs and 30 mins

A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.35 ratingsRate

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Cover beef shin in coconut milk and spices and add toasted desiccated coconut to thicken the rich sauce in this slow-cooked Malaysian dish. Serve with turmeric rice

Freezable

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

3 tbsp vegetable oil
2kg beef

shin or skirt, cut into bite-sized cubes
2 lemongrass

stalks, bashed (see 'Tip' for how to prepare)
2 x 400ml cans coconut milk
4 tbsp desiccated coconut
2 kaffir lime leaves

torn
1 ½ tbsp chicken stock

powder (we used one from an Asian supermarket)
2 tbsp tamarind paste
1 tsp golden caster sugar
¼ tsp salt

For the paste

15 dry chillies
6-8 baby shallots
thumb-sized piece ginger

chopped
thumb-sized piece galangal

peeled and chopped (use ginger if you can’t find it)
3 lemongrass

stalks, chopped

For the rice

2 tbsp oil
2 tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp turmeric
10 curry leaves

(optional)
700g jasmine rice
2 tsp chicken stock

powder

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Nutrition: per serving

kcal1405
fat71g
saturates37g
carbs108g
sugars8g
fibre4g
protein81g
salt0.8g

Method

step 1

For the paste, soak the chillies in boiling water for 15 mins. Drain, remove seeds and whizz with the rest of the paste ingredients in a small food processor until smooth.
step 2

Heat the oil in a wok or a heavy-based flameproof casserole dish. Fry the paste for 5 mins until the aroma is released. Add the beef and the lemongrass, and mix well. Once the beef starts to lose its pinkness, add the coconut milk and 250ml water. Bring to the boil, then lower to a simmer, uncovered. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking, and more often towards the end.
step 3

Meanwhile, toast the coconut in a frying pan on a low heat for 5-7 mins until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Using a blender, coarsely blend it to finer pieces – but not too fine. Put to one side.
step 4

After 2 hrs, add the coconut, kaffir lime leaves, chicken stock powder, tamarind paste, sugar and salt to the pan. Simmer for 30 mins more. You should start to see the oil separating from the mix. It’s ready when the meat is tender and almost falling apart.
step 5

For the rice, use a heavy-based saucepan with a lid. Heat the oil in the pan and add the mustard seeds. Once the seeds start popping, add the turmeric, curry leaves (if using) and rice, and mix well. Add the chicken stock and 1 litre of water. Bring to the boil, then turn down to the lowest simmer and cook, covered, for 5 mins. Remove from the heat, with the lid on and leave to steam for 25 mins.

RECIPE TIPS

PREPARING LEMONGRASS

Peel off the first layer and use the bottom, less fibrous part only, discarding the top 5cm. Any leftovers freeze well.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2014

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A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.35 ratings

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