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Rendang (Malaysian Dry Beef Curry)

Name: Rendang (Malaysian Dry Beef Curry)
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Malaysian
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef, cubed; 2 cups coconut milk; 3 stalks lemongrass; 6 shallots; 4 cloves garlic; 2-inch piece galangal; 4 turmeric leaves; 8 dried chilies; 6 kaffir lime leaves; 3 tbsp kerisik; 1 tbsp palm sugar; 1 tsp salt

Rendang (Malaysian Dry Beef Curry) reads umami 7.8, richness 7.2 and sweetness 5.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Malaysian main, about 1 hr 5 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 8.2 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 5.9 / 10
Sour & Bright — 5.1 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.0 / 10
Rich & Fat — 8.3 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 7.8 · Richness 7.2 · Sweetness 5.5 · Citrus 4.7 · Salinity 4.0 · Nutty 3.7 · Allium 3.6 · Heat 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.5 · Floral 2.1 · Earthy 1.9 · Fruity 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Sourness 1.2 · Bitterness 1.1

What's in it (12)

2 lbs beef, cubed
2 cups coconut milk
3 stalks lemongrass
6 shallots
4 cloves garlic
2-inch piece galangal
4 turmeric leaves
8 dried chilies
6 kaffir lime leaves
3 tbsp kerisik
1 tbsp palm sugar
1 tsp salt

Time & effort: about 1 hr 5 min (20 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 117.5 kcal, 11.1 g protein, 6.7 g fat, 4.5 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Blend all aromatic ingredients into a paste and fry until fragrant before adding beef and coconut milk.
Simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours, stirring regularly as the liquid reduces.
Stir in kerisik and cook until the beef is very dark and the sauce is dry.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Kalio Daging (Minang Beef Stopped at the Wet Stage) — Indonesian
Rendang (Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef) — Indonesian
Masak Lemak Cili Api (Negeri Sembilan Turmeric and Coconut Curry) — Malaysian
Bastilla (Pastilla) — Moroccan
Beef Malabar — Indian

Keep reading: what umami, richness, sweetness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.