Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup

印尼望加錫黑香料牛肋骨湯 Konro

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — finished dish

Total time: 155 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Beef ribs are slowly simmered with food-grade prepared fermented keluak, galangal, lemongrass and whole spices into Makassar’s dark Konro broth.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

1 kg beef short ribs
40 g food-grade prepared fermented keluak kernels
100 ml tamarind water
120 g shallots
5 cloves garlic
30 g galangal
2 stalks lemongrass

Main seasoning

1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 piece cinnamon
4 pieces cloves
2 tbsp cooking oil
2.5 L water
2 tsp salt

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — ingredients

02

Tools

cutting board
knife
dry skillet
mortar
heavy stockpot
ladle

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — tools

03

Steps

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Cut ribs into single-bone pieces and soak in cold water for ten minutes

Step 1

Cut ribs into single-bone pieces and soak in cold water for ten minutes

Cut ribs into single-bone pieces and soak in cold water for ten minutes.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Bring ribs up from cold water, boil two minutes, then rinse off scum

Step 2

Bring ribs up from cold water, boil two minutes, then rinse off scum

Bring ribs up from cold water, boil two minutes, then rinse off scum.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Toast coriander, cumin and pepper; pound with shallot, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, nutmeg and prepared keluak

Step 3

Toast coriander, cumin and pepper; pound with shallot, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, nutmeg and prepared keluak

Toast coriander, cumin and pepper; pound with shallot, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, nutmeg and prepared keluak.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Heat two tablespoons oil and fry the paste until dry, fragrant and glossy

Step 4

Heat two tablespoons oil and fry the paste until dry, fragrant and glossy

Heat two tablespoons oil and fry the paste until dry, fragrant and glossy.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Add cinnamon and cloves and fry thirty seconds without scorching

Step 5

Add cinnamon and cloves and fry thirty seconds without scorching

Add cinnamon and cloves and fry thirty seconds without scorching.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Return ribs and turn until evenly coated in the spices

Step 6

Return ribs and turn until evenly coated in the spices

Return ribs and turn until evenly coated in the spices.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Add 2

Step 7

Add 2

Add 2.5 litres hot water, boil, then skim foam and excess fat.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Cover and simmer gently for ninety minutes

Step 8

Cover and simmer gently for ninety minutes

Cover and simmer gently for ninety minutes.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Add tamarind water and salt; simmer twenty minutes more

Step 9

Add tamarind water and salt; simmer twenty minutes more

Add tamarind water and salt; simmer twenty minutes more.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Probe the beef; it should pull easily from bone but remain intact

Step 10

Probe the beef; it should pull easily from bone but remain intact

Probe the beef; it should pull easily from bone but remain intact.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Uncover, balance the tangy broth and skim the final surface fat

Step 11

Uncover, balance the tangy broth and skim the final surface fat

Uncover, balance the tangy broth and skim the final surface fat.

Indonesian Konro Beef Rib Soup — Divide ribs into bowls, ladle over hot Konro broth and serve

Step 12

Divide ribs into bowls, ladle over hot Konro broth and serve

Divide ribs into bowls, ladle over hot Konro broth and serve.

Common mistakes

Never use untreated keluak; improperly processed natural kernels are toxic. Raw paste tastes harsh and hard boiling clouds the broth.

Tips

Buy only labelled, fermented, ready-to-cook keluak kernels; add tamarind for the final twenty minutes.