“From its mouthwatering aroma to its spicy kick, Rendang is a curry like no other.”
We welcome you to the mysterious, exotic, and diverse world of Indonesian cuisine, where the fusion of flavors and aromas creates a mouth watering cacophony that tempts your taste buds with each dish.
Indonesian rendang curry is the pinnacle of culinary greatness among the countless dishes that embody Indonesia’s diverse cultural heritage.
The very heart of Indonesian culinary heritage is captured in the dish rendang, which is a slow-cooked meat dish.
A delightful stew of beef is carefully made with a complex mixture of spices and coconut milk, and simmered for hours until the tender meat is infused with the sauce’s signature harmonious interplay of flavors.
The end result is a masterpiece that will leave you wanting more because it is temptingly aromatic, slightly sour, and full of flavor.
In addition to being a cuisine, Indonesian rendang is an immersive experience that honors the nation’s rich and varied cultural heritage.
Let’s learn some Indonesian Recipes and set out on a culinary journey through the fascinating and diverse world of Indonesian cuisine!
5 Indonesian Rendang Recipes – Made with the Choicest Ingredients
Rendang is an absolute must-try for the daring foodie who enjoys strong, rich, and exotic flavors. Our collection of age-old Rendang Popular Recipes with Beef will help you learn the mysteries of Indonesian cuisine.
#1. Indonesian Rendang Curry with Beef Recipe
Slow-cooked Indonesian Rendang Curry with Beef Recipe has a fragrant mixture of spices and tender beef that has been simmered to perfection.
This Indonesian beef rendang recipe is a classic in Indonesian cooking, and foodies from all over the world love it for its strong, rich tastes.
Ingredient | Quantity |
Beef | 2 lbs |
Coconut milk | 2 cans |
Water | 1 cup |
Kaffir lime leaves | 6 |
Lemongrass stalks | 2 |
Galangal root | 2-inch piece |
Shallots | 5 |
Garlic cloves | 5 |
Dried red chili peppers | 10 |
Tamarind paste | 1 tbsp |
Brown sugar | 2 tbsp |
Salt | 2 tsp |
Cooking oil | 2 tbsp |
All the ingredients combine to make a delectable dish for your palate.
How to Cook:
- In a large pot, heat the coconut milk over medium-high heat until it starts to boil.
- Add the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, dried red chili peppers, shallots, garlic, ginger, and galangal to the pot and stir well.
- Add the beef, cinnamon stick, star anise, tamarind paste, salt, and sugar to the pot and stir until everything is well combined.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened. You can also make this beef rendang using bought paste too.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve the Rendang Curry with steamed rice, Sambal Oelek, fried shallots, and cucumber and tomato salad on the side (optional).
#2. Indonesian Rendang Curry with Chicken, Eggplant, and Scallions
The flavorful and spicy Indonesian Rendang Curry with Chicken, Eggplant and Scallions is made with tender chicken, eggplant and scallions with a creamy, spice-infused Rendang sauce.
By substituting chicken for the usual beef in the Rendang dish and including veggies, this recipe offers a tasty and wholesome dinner.
Ingredients | Quantity |
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs | 2 lbs |
Coconut milk | 2 cans |
Eggplant, cut into bite-sized pieces | 1 large |
Scallions, chopped | 4 stalks |
Rendang paste | 3-4 tbsp |
Water | 200ml |
Kaffir lime leaves | 3-4 leaves |
Salt | 1 tsp |
Sugar | 1 tbsp |
How to Cook:
- In a large pot, heat the Rendang paste over medium-high heat until fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chicken and stir until evenly coated with the paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the coconut milk, water, kaffir lime leaves, salt, and sugar. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the eggplant and scallions, and continue to simmer for another 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the eggplant is tender.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
Serve hot with steamed rice and optional side dishes such as cucumber and tomato salad. You can also serve it with noodles, such as udon or soba.
#3. Indonesian Rendang Curry with Tuna
Indonesian Rendang Curry with Tuna is a twist on the classic Rendang Curry recipe. Tuna is a great source of protein and has a high thermic effect, which means your body burns more calories to digest it.
Ingredients | Quantity |
Tuna steak | 500g |
Rendang paste | 4 tbsp |
coconut milk | 400ml |
water | 200ml |
kaffir lime leaves | 3-4 |
salt | 1 tsp |
sugar | 1 tbsp |
How to Cook:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the Rendang paste over medium-high heat until fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add the tuna and stir until evenly coated with the paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the coconut milk, water, kaffir lime leaves, salt, and sugar. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
Serve hot with steamed rice and optional side dishes such as stir-fried vegetables or pickled cucumber. You can also serve it with steamed white rice.
#4. Indonesian Rendang Curry with Mushrooms
The traditional beef rendang recipe has another version of Indonesian Rendang Curry with Mushrooms. It has a flavorful mixture of spices and luscious coconut milk that go fantastically with meaty mushrooms.
This meal is simple to prepare and ideal for a relaxing dinner at home. And the best thing is that you can easily convert this recipe to slow cooker beef rendang with paste.
Ingredients | Quantity |
Mushrooms, sliced | 1 lb |
Rendang paste | 3 tbsp |
Coconut milk | 1 can |
Water | 1/2 cup |
Kaffir lime leaves | 4-5 leaves |
Lemongrass stalks | 2 stalks |
Galangal, sliced | 1-inch piece |
Turmeric powder | 1 tsp |
Cinnamon stick | 1 stick |
Tamarind paste | 1 tbsp |
Brown sugar | 1 tbsp |
Salt | 1 tsp |
How to Cook:
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture, about 5 minutes.
- Add the rendang paste and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the coconut milk, water, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric powder, cinnamon stick, tamarind paste, brown sugar, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the mushrooms are tender.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass stalks before serving.
One can serve this dish alongside steamed rice, cucumber slices, and sliced tomatoes.
#5. Indonesian Rendang Curry with Potato, Green Beans, and Tofu
A vegan-friendly variation on the classic Rendang Curry recipe is Indonesian Rendang Curry with Potato, Green Beans, and Tofu.
This dish combines robust veggies and tofu with a sauce prepared from rendang paste for a flavorful and full supper.
Ingredients | Quantity |
Rendang paste | 3 tbsp |
Coconut milk | 2 cans |
Potatoes | 2 medium-sized |
Green beans | 200 g |
Firm tofu | 200 g |
Kaffir lime leaves | 4 |
Salt | 1 tsp |
Water | 1 cup |
How to Cook:
- In a pressure cooker, heat the rendang paste over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the coconut milk and stir well to combine with the paste.
- Add the potatoes, green beans, tofu, kaffir lime leaves, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add the water and stir again.
- Close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and give the curry a stir. If the sauce is too thin, continue cooking on medium heat with the lid off until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve hot over rice and garnish with cucumber slices and fried shallots, if desired.
This Indonesian Rendang Curry with Potato, Green Beans, and Tofu pairs well with a simple side of steamed rice. For added crunch and freshness, serve with a side of cucumber slices and top with some crispy fried shallots.
If you are looking for some quick lunch recipes try these other international Korean Lunch recipes for Busy Peeps. Here you will get the recipes for Korean beef noodles and more.
Whip Up Some Rendang Curry to Enjoy the Richness of Traditional Cuisine
A true representation of Indonesian culture and heritage is the traditional Rendang meal.
The complex fusion of a wide variety of exotic spices with the meat’s delicious texture is a culinary masterpiece that has won the hearts and palates of food lovers all over the world.
You need not worry if you are a passionate meat eater or vegan because the rendang dish contains something for everyone. With the convenience of beef rendang paste, preparing this dish has become easier than ever.
Indonesian Rendang boasts of an innate thermogenic impact, or an increase in metabolic rate that happens after consuming hot foods, in addition to its culinary prowess.
As a result, this masterpiece adds to its image as being healthy by helping to burn calories in addition to satisfying hunger.
To sum up, the Indonesian Rendang dish is a culinary treasure that is well worth finding, regardless of your degree of culinary expertise.
This dish will satisfy your hunger and be a hit at any gathering.