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Rendang (Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef)

Name: Rendang (Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef)
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: Indonesian
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed; 2 cups coconut milk; 6 shallots; 5 cloves garlic; 2-inch piece galangal; 3 stalks lemongrass; 6 kaffir lime leaves; 8 dried chilies; 1 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp coriander; 3 tbsp kerisik; 1 tbsp palm sugar; salt to taste

Rendang (Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef) reads richness 5.3, umami 5.1 and citrus 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Indonesian main, about 1 hr 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 5.4 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 5.4 / 10
Sour & Bright — 5.3 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 5.3 · Umami 5.1 · Citrus 5.0 · Sweetness 4.9 · Allium 3.7 · Nutty 3.6 · Heat 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.6 · Salinity 2.5 · Floral 2.2 · Fruity 1.7 · Earthy 1.6 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Sourness 1.0 · Bitterness 1.0

What's in it (13)

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

Time & effort: about 1 hr 30 min (25 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 169.3 kcal, 10 g protein, 12.9 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 shallots, garlic, galangal, chilies, and spices into a paste and cook with beef and coconut milk.
Continue uncovered over low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring often, until coconut milk fully reduces and beef is dark and dry-coated.
Stir in kerisik and adjust seasoning.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Rendang (Malaysian Dry Beef Curry) — Malaysian
Rendang Daging (Minang Beef Fried in Its Own Spice Paste) — Indonesian
Beef Malabar — Indian
Masak Lemak Cili Api (Negeri Sembilan Turmeric and Coconut Curry) — Malaysian
Kalio Daging (Minang Beef Stopped at the Wet Stage) — Indonesian

Keep reading: what richness, umami, citrus 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.