Rendang
Beef chuck or shin, shallots and fresh red chiles come together in this Indonesian beef β 70 minutes, 6 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and large pot. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (7)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
π Unit converter
How to make it
- Cut the beef into large 4 cm chunks and pat dry, then blend the shallots, garlic, chiles, ginger, galangal and turmeric into a smooth spice paste with a splash of water.
- Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium heat and fry the spice paste for 6 to 8 minutes until fragrant and the raw smell is gone, then add the bruised lemongrass and torn lime leaves.
- Add the beef and stir to coat, then pour in the coconut milk along with the tamarind and palm sugar and bring slowly to a gentle simmer without letting it boil hard.
- Simmer uncovered on low heat for about 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring often as the liquid reduces so the bottom does not catch, until the sauce thickens and turns oily and dark.
- Stir in the toasted shredded coconut and continue cooking for a final 20 to 30 minutes, stirring almost constantly, until the meat is fork tender and richly caramelized.
- Season with salt to taste and cook off any remaining liquid so the rendang is glossy and almost dry, then rest 10 minutes and serve hot with steamed rice.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet Β· Large pot Β· Saucepan Β· Blender Β· Steamer
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk Β· Β½ cup evaporated milk + Β½ cup water
- Shallots
- Β½ small onion + a little garlic
- Lemon
- lime Β· 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
- Lime
- lemon
What to serve with Rendang
- Ayam Goreng Chicken
- Ayam Penyet Chicken
- Bubur Ayam Breakfast
- Dadar Gulung Dessert
Tips & common questions
How long does Rendang take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish β an estimate based on the 6 steps and 15 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes β use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Rendang is an original Indonesian recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Beef Rendang..JPG (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top β how we source recipes.