Lita Eats

Cooking Soto Betawi is like entering Indonesian cuisine’s heart. This fragrant, soothing Jakarta soup features delicate beef, aromatic herbs, and creamy coconut milk. As soon as I chop lemongrass, ginger, and galangal, the house smells like Indonesian street markets. Each spoonful of Soto Betawi has a delicious blend of sweetness, spice, and creaminess that warms the heart and spirit. This feast celebrates culture and tradition.

Ingredients

• 1 kg beef (such as shank or your preferred cut); you can also add offal, beef ribs, or bone marrow for a richer broth
• Water for boiling the meat (reserve 2000 ml for the soup)
• 700 ml thick coconut milk
• 300 ml plain milk (Ultra or Bear brand), or replace with additional coconut milk
• 2 thumb-sized pieces of crushed galangal
• 4 stalks of lemongrass
• 4 dried bay leaves
• 5 fresh kaffir lime leaves
• 2 green onions, sliced (for the soup)
• 1/2 teaspoon ghee (optional; can be replaced with additional margarine)
• 1/4 teaspoon margarine
• Salt
• Seasoning

• Spice Paste:
  • 20 shallots
  • 20 cloves garlic
  • 5 candlenuts
  • 1 large red chili (seeds removed)
  • 1.5 thumb-sized pieces of ginger
  • Blend all ingredients and sauté until the paste is well-cooked

Additional Toppings:

• Emping (melinjo crackers)
• Sambal (chili sauce)
• Fried shallots
• Lime wedges
• Sweet soy sauce
• Regular fried potatoes
• Pickles
• Sliced tomatoes, celery leaves, and green onions

Methods

1. Bring water to a boil, then add the beef and cook for 15 minutes. Discard the water, refill the pot with fresh water, and bring it back to a boil. Add the beef again and simmer until the meat is tender with the herbs and spices.
2. Cut the cooked beef into pieces according to your preference. Bring the beef broth (2 liters) to a boil. Add the sautéed spice paste, salt, seasoning (like lemonilo), sugar, ghee, and margarine. Stir in the beef slices, coconut milk, and plain milk (if using). Add the sliced green onions.
3. Stir frequently to prevent the coconut milk from curdling. Adjust seasoning as needed, then remove from heat and serve.
4. The total liquid (broth, coconut milk, and milk) should be about 3000 ml.