Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans

印尼黑果牛肉豆腐燴 Brongkos

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — finished dish

Total time: 115 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Beef, black-eyed peas and tofu simmer in a dark kluwek-coconut gravy, forming a thick stew rather than a clear soup.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

500 g diced beef shank
240 g cooked canned black-eyed peas, drained
200 g firm tofu
40 g commercially prepared culinary kluwek paste
300 ml coconut milk
500 ml water
4 shallots
3 cloves garlic
1 stalk lemongrass
2 kaffir lime leaves

Seasoning

1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 small red chilli
1 tbsp palm sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp cooking oil

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — ingredients

02

Tools

chopping board
knife
blender
heavy lidded pot
spatula
strainer

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — tools

03

Steps

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Confirm the kluwek paste is commercially prepared for cooking

Step 1

Confirm the kluwek paste is commercially prepared for cooking

Confirm the kluwek paste is commercially prepared for cooking; do not use raw kluwek.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Cut beef into 2 cm pieces

Step 2

Cut beef into 2 cm pieces

Cut beef into 2 cm pieces, cube tofu, and rinse and drain canned black-eyed peas.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Blend shallots

Step 3

Blend shallots

Blend shallots, garlic and chilli with a splash of water into a paste.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Bruise lemongrass and tear lime leaves

Step 4

Bruise lemongrass and tear lime leaves

Bruise lemongrass and tear lime leaves; set them aside.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Heat oil in a heavy pot and fry the spice paste about 4 minutes

Step 5

Heat oil in a heavy pot and fry the spice paste about 4 minutes

Heat oil in a heavy pot and fry the spice paste about 4 minutes until moisture reduces.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Add ground coriander

Step 6

Add ground coriander

Add ground coriander, turmeric and prepared kluwek paste; fry 2 more minutes.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Add beef and turn until its surface changes colour and is coated darkly

Step 7

Add beef and turn until its surface changes colour and is coated darkly

Add beef and turn until its surface changes colour and is coated darkly.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Add water

Step 8

Add water

Add water, lemongrass and lime leaves; bring to a boil, cover and simmer about 65 minutes until beef softens.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Pour in coconut milk and stir over low heat without a hard boil

Step 9

Pour in coconut milk and stir over low heat without a hard boil

Pour in coconut milk and stir over low heat without a hard boil.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Add cooked peas and tofu

Step 10

Add cooked peas and tofu

Add cooked peas and tofu, fold gently and simmer about 12 minutes.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Stir in palm sugar and salt

Step 11

Stir in palm sugar and salt

Stir in palm sugar and salt, then reduce uncovered to a thick gravy.

Indonesian Brongkos Beef and Beans — Serve in a deep dish

Step 12

Serve in a deep dish

Serve in a deep dish; beef should be tender, tofu intact and the sauce thick, not brothy.

Common mistakes

Using raw unprocessed kluwek
Hard-boiling coconut milk until split
Breaking tofu with vigorous stirring

Tips

Use only ready-to-cook kluwek paste; canned cooked peas avoid overnight soaking and a separate bean boil.