Beef rendang recipe
 Beef rendang is a really rich South-East Asian curry made with coconut milk and tender beef. Serve with jasmine rice and steamed greens. 2 lemongrass stalks, dry outer leaves removed, roughly chopped 3 medium-sized red onions, quartered6 garlic cloves, peeled25g/1oz fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped75g/2½oz chunk galangal, peeled and roughly chopped 3 plump red chillies, roughly chopped without deseeding 3 tbsp sunflower oil2 tsp ground cumin1 tbsp ground coriander1 tsp ground turmeric1.5kg/3lb 5oz beef chuck steak (or any good braising beef), trimmed and cut into 3cm/1¼in cubes400ml/14fl oz can coconut milk4 fresh makrut lime leaves1 cinnamon stick1 tbsp soft light brown sugar or palm sugar2 tsp tamarind paste or freshly squeezed juice of 1 lime2 tbsp dark soy sauce2 tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra to seasonground black peppertoasted coconut flakes, to serve (optional) 2 lemongrass stalks, dry outer leaves removed, roughly chopped 3 medium-sized red onions, quartered 6 garlic cloves, peeled 25g/1oz fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped 75g/2½oz chunk galangal, peeled and roughly chopped 3 plump red chillies, roughly chopped without deseeding 3 tbsp sunflower oil 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground turmeric 1.5kg/3lb 5oz beef chuck steak (or any good braising beef), trimmed and cut into 3cm/1¼in cubes 400ml/14fl oz can coconut milk 4 fresh makrut lime leaves 1 cinnamon stick 1 tbsp soft light brown sugar or palm sugar 2 tsp tamarind paste or freshly squeezed juice of 1 lime 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 2 tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra to season ground black pepper toasted coconut flakes, to serve (optional) Method In a food processor combine the lemongrass, onions, garlic, ginger, galangal and chillies. Blend to a fine paste (you may need to remove the lid and push the mixture down a couple of times with spatula until the right consistency is reached).Heat the sunflower oil in a large flame-proof casserole and fry the paste gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the cumin, coriander and turmeric and cook for two minutes.Add the beef to the pan and stir to coat in the paste and spices. Cook for five minutes, stirring constantly until the meat is very lightly coloured all over. Pour the coconut milk and 400ml/14fl oz cold water into the casserole. Add the lime leaves, cinnamon stick, sugar, tamarind paste or lime juice, soy sauce and salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and leave to gently simmer uncovered for about 2½-3 hours, or until the meat is meltingly tender and the sauce is very thick, glossy and rich. Stir the beef occasionally towards the beginning of the cooking time then more often as the coconut milk reduces. You don’t want the sauce to stick. Season to taste with more salt and freshly ground black pepper.Spoon the curry into warm serving dishes, pick out the lime leaves and cinnamon stick, and sprinkle with the toasted coconut, if using. In a food processor combine the lemongrass, onions, garlic, ginger, galangal and chillies. Blend to a fine paste (you may need to remove the lid and push the mixture down a couple of times with spatula until the right consistency is reached). In a food processor combine the lemongrass, onions, garlic, ginger, galangal and chillies. Blend to a fine paste (you may need to remove the lid and push the mixture down a couple of times with spatula until the right consistency is reached). Heat the sunflower oil in a large flame-proof casserole and fry the paste gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the cumin, coriander and turmeric and cook for two minutes. Heat the sunflower oil in a large flame-proof casserole and fry the paste gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the cumin, coriander and turmeric and cook for two minutes. Add the beef to the pan and stir to coat in the paste and spices. Cook for five minutes, stirring constantly until the meat is very lightly coloured all over. Add the beef to the pan and stir to coat in the paste and spices. Cook for five minutes, stirring constantly until the meat is very lightly coloured all over. Pour the coconut milk and 400ml/14fl oz cold water into the casserole. Add the lime leaves, cinnamon stick, sugar, tamarind paste or lime juice, soy sauce and salt and bring to a simmer. Pour the coconut milk and 400ml/14fl oz cold water into the casserole. Add the lime leaves, cinnamon stick, sugar, tamarind paste or lime juice, soy sauce and salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and leave to gently simmer uncovered for about 2½-3 hours, or until the meat is meltingly tender and the sauce is very thick, glossy and rich. Stir the beef occasionally towards the beginning of the cooking time then more often as the coconut milk reduces. You don’t want the sauce to stick. Season to taste with more salt and freshly ground black pepper. Reduce the heat and leave to gently simmer uncovered for about 2½-3 hours, or until the meat is meltingly tender and the sauce is very thick, glossy and rich. Stir the beef occasionally towards the beginning of the cooking time then more often as the coconut milk reduces. You don’t want the sauce to stick. Season to taste with more salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon the curry into warm serving dishes, pick out the lime leaves and cinnamon stick, and sprinkle with the toasted coconut, if using. Spoon the curry into warm serving dishes, pick out the lime leaves and cinnamon stick, and sprinkle with the toasted coconut, if using. Recipe tips This curry is even better made the day before, so cook for 15 minutes less and cool quickly in a large, shallow dish. Cover and keep in the fridge. Reheat slowly in a large casserole until piping hot, stirring just enough to distribute the heat but not so much that the meat breaks up.