CHILLI BEEF RENDANG
CHILLI BEEF RENDANG
CHILLI BEEF RENDANG

Ingredients
  • 2 large banana shallots
  • roughly chopped
  • 5cm/2in piece fresh root ginger
  • peeled
  • roughly chopped
  • 2 lemongrass stalks
  • tough outer leaves discarded
  • core roughly chopped
  • 3 lime leaves
  • roughly chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • peeled
  • roughly chopped
  • 4 long red chillies
  • roughly chopped
  • 1kg/2lb 4oz stewing beef
  • cut into cubes
  • 1-2 small dried chillies
  • to taste
  • 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 5 cardamom pods
  • lightly crushed
  • 3 star anise
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 x 400ml tin coconut milk
  • 200ml/7fl oz beef stock
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp palm sugar
  • 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 2 limes
  • juice only
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • boiled jasmine rice
  • to serve
Directions
  • Blend the shallots
  • ginger
  • lemongrass
  • lime leaves
  • garlic
  • red chillies and 5 tablespoons water to a paste in a food processor. Scoop the mixture out into a large bowl and add the beef
  • mixing well until the meat is coated in the paste. Cover and set aside to marinate for at least 2 hours
  • and preferably overnight in the fridge.
  • Put the dried chillies into a bowl and cover with boiling water from the kettle. Set aside for 30 minutes to soften.
  • Heat the oil in a casserole over a medium heat. Add the cardamom
  • star anise
  • cinnamon
  • ground cumin and ground coriander and stir the spices into the oil until fragrant.
  • Add the marinated beef and stir well to coat it in the spices.
  • Add all of the remaining ingredients except the lime juice (and the rice) and bring the mixture to the boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering.
  • Drain the dried chillies
  • reserving the soaking water
  • and chop them finely. Add the chillies and 50ml/2fl oz of the soaking water to the casserole and stir well. Cover with a lid and simmer for 2 hours
  • or until the beef is tender.
  • Remove the lid and stir the curry
  • then simmer for a further 15-20 minutes
  • or until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the lime juice and season
  • to taste
  • with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Serve the beef rendang with jasmine rice.