Neil Perry's beef rendang

Name: Neil Perry's beef rendang
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 800g topside beef, cut into 3cm pieces; 600ml coconut milk; 1½ tbsp tamarind paste; 6 makrut lime leaves, crushed, plus extra to serve; 1½ tbsp grated palm sugar; sea salt

Neil Perry

Updated February 23, 2023, first published June 13, 2017

Time:1-2 hoursServes:4

Curry favour with your guests by making them this mouthwatering beef rendang. This delicious rendang can be made with lamb or chicken – just alter the cooking time. Using a small shoulder of lamb (about a kilo) will take a little less time, while chicken thighs will be ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients

3 tbsp vegetable oil
800g topside beef, cut into 3cm pieces
600ml coconut milk
1½ tbsp tamarind paste
6 makrut lime leaves, crushed, plus extra to serve
1½ tbsp grated palm sugar
sea salt

Rendang curry paste

15g shrimp paste
1 red onion, roughly chopped
8 garlic cloves, chopped
12 long red chillies, seeds removed and chopped
1 lemongrass stem, white part only, chopped
40g galangal, peeled and finely chopped
40g ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 makrut lime, finely grated zest
5g fresh turmeric, grated, or 1 tsp ground turmeric

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160C. To make the curry paste, first wrap the shrimp paste in foil and roast for about 10 minutes, until fragrant. Blend or process all the ingredients together to form a smooth paste (makes about 400 grams).
2. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wok. Add 150g curry paste and fry for three minutes – this will release a strong chilli fragrance, but it is a necessary part of the recipe and well worth it. (The remaining curry paste will keep for up to three months in a freezer.)
3. Add the beef, coconut milk, tamarind paste and lime leaves. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently (so the coconut milk doesn't stick) for 1-1½ hours, or until the meat is tender and the curry has thickened. Add palm sugar and salt to taste. Serve with extra finely sliced lime leaves, steamed jasmine rice and Asian greens.

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