How to Make Rawon - Hi culinary friends! Rawon is a typical food from the Surabaya area, East Java, Indonesia. This food is made from a thick and savory sauce made from a mixture of typical spices such as kluwak, chili, ginger, shallots, garlic and other spices. Apart from these spices, beef is also the main ingredient in making rawon, giving this food a savory and tender taste.
In its presentation, Rawon is usually served with white rice, salted egg, and prawn crackers as a compliment. This food is very well known in Indonesia and has even become one of the national dishes that is recognized by the government. Before we start making the original Surabaya beef rawon, it's a good idea to prepare all the ingredients needed in advance. The following are the ingredients that must be prepared:
Materials Needed
- 1 kg of beef
- 2 stalks of lemongrass, bruised
- 4 lime leaves
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 liters of water
- 250 ml thick coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
- 12 shallots
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 5 candlenuts
- 2 teaspoons cilantro
- 2 teaspoons of pepper
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of shrimp paste
How to Make Surabaya Authentic Beef Rawon
After all the ingredients are available, here's how to make authentic Surabaya beef rawon which is easy and delicious:- First, stir-fry ground spices with cooking oil until fragrant and cooked.
- Next, put the beef that has been cut into small pieces into the stir-fried ground spices. Stir well and cook until the meat changes color.
- Add lemon grass, lime leaves, and bay leaves to the stir-fried meat. Stir well and cook until the meat is tender.
- After the meat is tender, add water and stir well. Cook until it boils and leave it until the gravy thickens.
- After the gravy thickens, add thick coconut milk. Stir well and cook until the gravy returns to a boil.
- Remove and serve this delicious authentic Surabayan beef rawon with white rice, salted egg and prawn crackers.
Tips for Making Delicious Authentic Surabaya Beef Rawon
To make the original Surabaya beef rawon even more delicious, there are a few tips you can apply:- Use fresh beef and cut it into small pieces to make it easier to cook and tender.
- Don't use too much coconut milk so it won't be too heavy and greasy.
- Don't forget to add lemongrass, lime leaves, and bay leaves to the stir-fried beef to make the aroma and taste more distinctive.
- Use quality shrimp paste to give a stronger salty and savory taste.
- After the meat is tender, let the gravy thicken until the taste is thicker and richer.
- Serve with warm white rice, salted egg, and shrimp crackers to add a better taste.
Tips and How to Cook Rawon So that the Meat is Tender
Warm regards, Culinary Friends! Who doesn't know rawon? This typical East Javanese dish is famous for its thick black sauce and distinctive spice aroma. It's incomplete if rawon is not served with tender and delicious meat. However, how do you cook rawon so that the meat is tender? Here we will provide some tips and tricks!1. Use the Right Meat
First of all, to get tender meat in rawon, Culinary Friends must choose the right meat. Choose meat that has a little fiber and a slightly whitish color. The meat is usually the meat of the hamstrings or brisket.2. Cut Meat Properly
After choosing the right meat, Culinary Friends must cut it properly. Cut the meat crosswise to the size that suits your taste. Avoid cutting meat too thick or too thin because it can affect the texture of the meat when cooked.3. Marinated Meat
After cutting, marinate the meat for at least 1 hour with prepared spices such as garlic, coriander, ginger and turmeric. Marinating will help the meat to be more tender and seep into the meat fibers.4. Boil Meat in Cold Water
To make rawon meat tender, you must first boil it in cold water. Place the pieces of meat in the pot, pour cold water so that it covers the meat, and heat the pot. Boil the meat over low heat and allow the water to turn brown.5. Discard the First Boiled Water
After the cooking water changes color, remove the meat and throw away the cooking water. This step is useful for eliminating the fishy smell of the meat and making it cleaner.6. Boil Meat with Seasoning
AfterThe first boiled water is discarded, then the meat is boiled again with spices such as galangal, bay leaves, lemongrass, and beef stock. Use low heat and allow until the meat is tender and the spices seep into the meat.7. Use Santan
To get a rich and delicious rawon sauce, Culinary Friends can add coconut milk to the meat stew. Coconut milk will give a creamy taste and a delicious aroma to the rawon sauce.8. Don't Forget to Add Salt
Salt is an important spice in cooking rawon. Add enough salt to the rawon sauce so that it tastes right on your tongue. However, do not be too much because too much salt can spoil the taste of the dish.9. Use the Slow Cooking Technique
One cooking technique that can make meat tender is slow cooking. This technique processes meat at low temperatures for a long time so that the meat is tender and easily broken with a fork. Culinary Friends can use a slow cooker or cook over low heat for a long time.10. Add Tamarind
Tamarind is a common ingredient used in Javanese cooking. Add a little tamarind to the rawon sauce to give it a delicious, fresh, sour taste to the dish.11. Add Beans and Bean Sprouts
Rawon is usually served with peanuts and bean sprouts as a complement. Beans and bean sprouts can also give a fresh taste to dishes. Don't forget to boil the beans and bean sprouts first for extra.12. Use Lime Leaves
Lime leaves are ingredients that can give a fresh aroma to cooking. Add lime leaves to the rawon sauce to give a fresh and delicious aroma to the dish.13. Add Fried Onion
Fried onions are a common topping in Indonesian dishes. Add fried onions to rawon to give a crunchy texture to the dish.14. Serve with Rice and Sambal
Serve Rawon with rice and chili sauce. Eat rawon with warm rice and chili sauce to give a complete taste to the dish.15. Store in Refrigerator
Rawon can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Store rawon in a tightly closed container and place it in the refrigerator. If you want to serve again, heat the rawon in a saucepan and add water if necessary.16. Don't Cook Too Long
Although the slow cooking technique can make the meat tender, do not cook the meat too long because it can make the meat become too soft and turn into an unpleasant texture.17. Taste the Soup Periodically
Taste the broth periodically to make sure the rawon taste is right on the tongue. Feel free to add spices or salt if the taste isn't quite right.18. Clean Meat Well
Before cooking, clean the meat well from unnecessary skin and tendons. This can affect the texture of the meat when it is cooked.19. Use the Right Pot
Choose the right pot to boil the meat. A pot that is too small can prevent the meat from being completely submerged in water and a pot that is too large can make the rawon sauce too runny.Enjoy Rawon with Fun Eating
Now, Culinary Friends, you know various tips and how to cook rawon so that the meat is tender and delicious, all you have to do is practice in your own kitchen. When the cooking is finished, don't forget to enjoy it. Dine with family or friends, while chatting about daily life or sharing stories about other recipes.Food not only satisfies the stomach, but also strengthens human relationships. Enjoy rawon with a pleasant meal and feel the sensation of soft meat on the tongue. Hopefully the tips and how to cook rawon above can help culinary friends to make delicious and tender rawon. See you again in another interesting article!