A delicious dish that doesn't cost the earth.
Ingredients
- 2 lemongrass stalks
- 40 g coriander seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 100 g block coconut cream
- 3 large onions (finely chopped)
- 6 garlic cloves (chopped)
- 6 red chillies (de-seeded and chopped)
- 2 thumb sized pieces ginger (peeled and chopped)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1.5 kg stewing beef (cut into 2.5 cm cubes)
- 2 400g cans coconut milk
- 500 ml strong veal or beef stock heated
- sticky rice, to serve
Method
- Pound the lemongrass to a pulp using a mortar and pestle.
- Gently toast the coriander and cumin seeds and the tumeric in a dry frying pan untill fragrant, then grind to a powder, or pound with the pestle until the spices are as smooth as possible.
- In a wide pan (I use a cast iron wok), heat the block of coconut cream until it melts but keep the heat low so it does not burn.
- Drop in the onions, garlic, chilies, ginger and pounded lemongrass and cook gently until the onions have softened and the mixture starts to smell beautiful and fragrant.
- Add the ground spices and the bay leaves and fry for a few minutes more until the mixture is really bursting with aroma
- Add the meat, increase the heat under the pan so it browns it well, and stir until it is completely coated with the spices-this will take a few minutes.
- Add the coconut milk, bring to the boil, then add the stock.
- Turn the heat up to a high and continue cooking- the level of the liquid will quickly fall.
- Please stir occasionally until the sauce reduces to a thick paste, then keep cooking and stirring until the sauce becomes thick like lava and really coats the meat (this will take a good hour).
- Serve the rendang with sticky rice
