Rendang

Rendang is a fried meat or dry curry made of meat stewed in coconut milk and spices, widely popular across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, where each version is considered local cuisine. It refers to both a cooking method of frying and the dish cooked in that way. The process involves slowly cooking meat in spiced coconut milk in an uncovered pot or pan until the oil separates, allowing the dish to fry in its own sauce, coating the meat in a rich, flavorful glaze.
Rooted in Malay and Minangkabau, rendang developed at the cultural crossroads of the Malacca Strait. The dish carries strong Indian influences, as many of its key ingredients are staples in Indian cooking. The introduction of chili peppers by the Portuguese through the Columbian exchange after the capture of Malacca in 1511, played a key role in the evolution of rendang. Malay and Minangkabau traders frequently carried rendang as provisions, allowing the dish to travel naturally through cultural exchange between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. In the 20th century, the Minangkabau people's strong tradition of migration further contributed to the dish's spread, as they introduced Minang-style rendang to the various places they settled.
As a signature dish in Southeast Asian Muslim cuisines—Malay, Minangkabau (as samba randang), and Moro (as riyandang)—rendang is traditionally served at ceremonial occasions and festive gatherings, such as wedding feasts and Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha). Nowadays, it is commonly served at food stalls and restaurants as a side dish with rice. In 2009, Malaysia recognized rendang as a heritage food. Indonesia granted rendang cultural heritage status in 2013 and officially declared it one of its national dishes in 2018.
Both the Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia and Kamus Dewan define rendang as meat cooked with spices and coconut milk until completely dry; rendang is also a verb for the action of frying in a pan with or without oil (only in Kamus Dewan). Food historian Khir Johari explains that rendang had a broader meaning for frying in general before the prevalence of goreng. For instance, Munshi Abdullah in his 1838 travelogue to Kelantan described the people of Terengganu enjoying rendang pisang (fried banana fritters) — what the Malays now called goreng pisang or pisang goreng.
A 1960 article from Azizah Ja'afar in Berita Harian's Dewan Wanita section lists rendang as "frying with a generous amount of oil", similar to merendang pisang or jemput-jemput (fried fritters), where the things being fried would float in the hot oil. This distinguishes rendang from goreng, which involves little to no oil, as seen in dishes like nasi goreng or mi goreng. Additionally, "rendang" is also the name of a traditional Malay dish known for its rich, spicy flavors, such as rendang santan (meat cooked in coconut milk), and rendang pedas (spiced meat).
Linguist Tom G. Hoogervorst's etymological research traces rendang back to the 17th-century Malay wordlists. The name rendang comes from the frying process; by the late 19th century, rendang was associated more specifically with a type of dry curry by British colonial officials in Malaya, where it is noted that Malays distinguished rendang as a dry curry and gulai as a wet curry. In olden times, rendang was often translated to English as "fried meat" or "dry curry".
Rendang entered Oxford English Dictionary through Malay and Indonesian rendang which also cognates with Minangkabau randang. Gusti Asnan notes that the earliest recorded mention of randang in the Minangkabau context appears in J.L. van der Toorn’s Minangkabau-Malay-Dutch dictionary published in 1891.
Food historian Fadly Rahman traces the earliest reference to rendang to the early 16th-century Malay manuscript Hikayat Amir Hamzah associated with the Malacca Sultanate (1400–1528). Written during the spread of Islam in the Malay world, this adaptation of the Persian Hamzanama was later compiled into Malay and intended to inspire Malacca's soldiers in their fight against the Portuguese in 1511. In Malay version, there mentioned the words “rendang” and “merendang” (roasting) which is quoted as follows:
This passage suggests that merendang refers to a cooking technique, while rendang describes the resulting dish have been part of the Malay vocabulary since the 16th century.
Hoogervorst's research, traces the modern term rendang back to the Malay-Dutch dictionary first compiled in Ambon and published by Caspar Wiltens and Sebastiaan Danckaert in 1623, where it was defined as "to fry in butter or oil, to fry, to fricassee". The dictionary was expanded and updated multiple times. According to Fadly Rahman, the author of the dictionary attempted to translate rendang using a European dish, something that his readers would be familiar with — fricassee, a French cooking method that involves cutting meat into pieces and braising it.
Khir Johari notes that rendang tumis is mentioned in the Hikayat Hang Tuah, a classic Malay literary masterpiece from around the 1670s. Another manuscript, Hikayat Awang Sulung Merah Muda, reflects 18th-century life and cooking traditions. In the narration, a prince hunts and captures a pelanduk (mouse deer), which is then prepared in various styles — tumis, rendang, and gulai. Tumis refers to a dish that is more like soup, while rendang resembles the slow-cooked dish we know today. These manuscripts offer a glimpse into the Malay cuisine of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Historical records from the 19th century, including newspaper reports and travelogues, often described the key ingredients of rempah (spice paste) used in rendang, as well as its regional variations. Renowned for his refined taste and hospitality, Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor frequently hosted lavish banquets at his Istana Besar in Johor Bahru. In 1873, J.F.A. McNair described a royal Malay banquet featuring dishes such as rendang tenggiri and rendang chinchang Plentong. In 1881, when King David Kalākaua of Hawaii visited Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar served rendang tenggiri as part of the royal reception.
By the early 20th century, rendang recipes began appearing in published cookbooks and newspapers across British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. On 2 February 1917, Soenting Melajoe featured an article by Datoek Soetan Maharadja, noting that Europeans residing in Palembang, Batavia, and Kupang had written to Minangkabau women, sending money through the magazine’s editor to request the preparation and delivery of “rendang Alam Minangkabau”. The "Mem's" Own Cookery Book: 420 Tried and Economical Recipes for Malaya (1920) by Mrs. Kinsey, published in Singapore, included a recipe for "rundang" that used curry powder and could be served with spaghetti. In 1936, R.A. Kardinah's Cooking Guide for Ladies, published in Batavia, featured a chicken rendang recipe that emphasized slow cooking, though it adapted traditional ingredients.
In Indonesia, rendang is mainly associated with Minangkabau. The popularity of rendang grew with the presence of Minangkabau-style lepau (food stalls) in areas where Minangkabau migrants settled. Their presence in new areas played a significant role in popularizing rendang as a signature dish of West Sumatra. Today, rendang stands as the iconic menu item in Minangkabau restaurants, often accompanied by other meat-based dishes.
In Malaysia and Singapore, rendang is often paired with iconic dishes such as nasi lemak — a national favorite — or lemang, glutinous rice cooked in bamboo, particularly during festivals like Hari Raya. However, rendang has also become a staple in Malay eateries. It even features on the menus of international restaurants, showcasing its enduring appeal and cultural significance.
Rendang, often regarded as an exclusive Malay-Minangkabau dish, is heavily influenced by Indian cuisine. Many of its ingredients, such as cardamom, coriander, garlic, shallots, chili, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, bay leaves, tamarind, and turmeric, are staples in Indian cooking. Winarno and Agustinah believe rendang may have been inspired by curry, a dish combining meat and spices in North India. Indian traders who traveled to West Sumatra brought their culinary traditions with them, possibly influencing the development of rendang. It likely traces its roots to Indian merchants, though it has undergone multiple layers of evolution over time. During this period, Malaysia and Indonesia had yet to emerge as distinct geographical entities, resulting in a deep shared culinary and cultural history.
Gusti Asnan notes that the earliest mention of randang in Minangkabau culture appears in J.L. van der Toorn's dictionary from 1891. However, he believes that it had been familiar to the Minangkabau people long before this record.
However, to determine when rendang truly became part of the Minangkabau tradition, a review of historical sources is necessary.
According to culinary historian Janet P. Boileau, Portuguese cooks had a unique method of frying meat after braising, unlike the Arab technique of frying before boiling. This approach, adopted by Luso-Asian cooks, may have influenced local culinary practices including rendang. When the Portuguese ruled Malacca (1511–1641), they brought various cultural and culinary influences to the Malay Peninsula and neighboring Sumatra. Portuguese cuisine introduced preservation techniques and terms like acar, belacan, baulu, and mentega.
After Malacca fell to the Dutch, the Kristang community — descendants of Malaccan Portuguese settlers — faced economic challenges and sought cost-effective ways to prepare food. They adopted techniques similar to those used by their counterparts in Portuguese Macau, such as frying meat with minimal water until it blackened, resembling bafado. (Bafado is derived from the term abafado, which means "a dish of stew".) This method led to the creation of the Kristang version of dry beef curry and then spread to the Malay people and reached the Minangkabau.
In the early 16th century, the arrival of Tomé Pires and the writings of João de Barros marked the beginning of Portuguese influence in West Sumatra during the Portuguese control of Malacca. This contact likely introduced culinary elements such as Abafado, meaning “a dish of stew,” which evolved into bafado and was later adapted as balado in Minangkabau, which has since become a widely recognized culinary term in Minangkabau cuisine. With both bafado and balado serving food preservation purposes, and considering the movement of Minangkabau traders across the Malacca Strait from Sumatra to Peninsula Malaysia, it reflects Luso’s culinary influence may be spread due to human traffic activities between two regions.
Rendang was officially recognized by Malaysia as a National Heritage food in 2009, celebrated for its rich diversity across the country. Rendang campur was declared in 2012. Randang from West Sumatra was granted cultural heritage status in 2013 by the Indonesian government. Rendang holds a special place in Malay and Minangkabau society, celebrated for its deep cultural significance and often reserved for special occasions such as Eid, weddings, and important gatherings. In villages, making rendang is a communal effort, with large amounts of meat being cooked in a giant cast-iron cauldron. During the final stage, people work together, stirring with a wooden oar-like spatula for hours to ensure even cooking. This slow frying removes moisture, allowing the meat to absorb the spices while preventing burning or breaking.
The essence of rendang lies in its meticulous cooking process, where meat or chicken is slow-cooked with fresh coconut milk, aromatic spices, and herbs. This harmonious blend of ingredients represents unity and balance within the Malay community. Beyond its exquisite taste, rendang embodies hospitality, cultural pride, and a connection to heritage. Malay food traditions make the most of coconuts, knowing that the best coconut milk comes from mature coconuts. People with coconut palms could easily choose the right coconut for rendang the next day. Oil plays an important role in the dish's presentation, adding a glossy finish whether used for sautéing or naturally released during cooking.
Rendang is traditionally associated with festive occasions and ceremonial meals. For example, it took center stage in the royal celebration during the Santapan Nasi Berastakona at Istana Iskandariah following the Perak Sultan's coronation. Various styles of rendang were served alongside layers of yellow, white, and black glutinous rice in an intricately carved silver octagonal vessel called the Astakona, symbolizing sustenance and harmony. Notable Perak variations of rendang such as rendang tok, rendang ayam, and rendang udang, were thoughtfully prepared and arranged around the rice centerpiece, showcasing the dish's ceremonial importance.
In Minangkabau culture, there are three types of food: makanan adat (traditional ceremonial food), samba adat (ceremonial dishes), and makan beradat (formal dining traditions). Rendang belongs to the category of samba adat, which is essential for traditional ceremonies. One key example is rendang daging kerbau (buffalo meat rendang), which symbolizes legitimacy in cultural rituals. Buffalo meat is particularly significant and cannot be substituted, as it is tied to the recognition of a tribal leader’s title.
Rendang, a celebrated dish from the Minangkabau region, is tied to a folk tale about Princess Puti Ranti, a humble and skilled cook. In a royal cooking competition, jealous rivals sabotaged her gulai, causing it to blacken. Despite this, the dish turned out delicious, and Puti Ranti won the contest. The delighted king named the dish rendang, combining her name and that of her future fiancé, Danggala. This story reflects Rendang’s significance as a symbol of heritage and pride in Minangkabau culture.
Each ingredient in rendang is reported to carry philosophical symbolism in Minangkabau culture and represents its key values and principles that reflect the way of life and social structure of the people.
Rendang has a special position in the culture of the Minangkabau people. The Minangkabau people are famous for their Merantau culture, which is to leave their hometowns in West Sumatra. Minang people in the land area used to travel to the Strait of Malacca to Singapore which took about a month through the river, because along the way there were no villages, the nomads prepared a long-lasting food supply, namely Rendang.
CNN International, named rendang from Indonesia, the world's most delicious dish in 2011, ranking first among 50 dishes worldwide. According to Fadly Rahman, many Indonesians don't just see this ranking as proof of rendang’s exceptional taste; rather, it has been widely used by the government and culinary communities to reinforce that rendang is an Indonesian dish, not Malaysian. However, what often goes unnoticed is how this claim transforms rendang from a symbol of culinary excellence into a dish laden with political significance.
In 2018, a judge on MasterChef UK sparked controversy by criticizing a contestant’s rendang for not being crispy enough. The remark drew strong reactions from Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Indonesians, leading to widespread debate. In response, some local eateries even created their own crispy versions of rendang.
Rendang is most often described as meat slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices until it becomes tender. If cooked properly, dry rendang can last for as long as four weeks. Prior to refrigeration technology, this style of cooking enabled preservation of large amounts of meat in the tropical climate, and therefore became a popular cooking technique. Its durability is one of the reasons that today, prepackaged rendang is sent as food aid relief for natural disaster survivors in Indonesia. The preferred cut of beef for rendang is lean meat of the rear leg; i.e. topside or round beef, which is considered perfect for slow cooking.
Rendang is rich in spices. Along with the main meat ingredient, rendang uses coconut milk and a paste of mixed ground spices, including ginger, galangal, turmeric leaves, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, chillis and other spices. This spice mixture is called pemasak in Minangkabau. The spices, garlic, shallot, ginger and galangal used in rendang have antimicrobial properties and serve as natural organic preservatives. Although some culinary experts describe rendang as a curry, the dish is usually not considered as such in Indonesia or Malaysia since it is richer and contains less liquid than is normal for curries.
Traditionally the term rendang does not refer to a certain type of dish. The verb merendang actually refers to a method of slow cooking; continuously churning the ingredients in a pot or frying pan, on a small fire, until all of the liquids evaporate and the meat is well done. Traditional Padang rendang takes hours to cook. Cooking rendang involves pounding and grinding ingredients as well as slow cooking, and so is time-consuming and requires patience. The meat pieces are slowly cooked in coconut milk and spices until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to become tender and absorb the condiments. The cooking process changes from boiling to frying, as the liquid evaporates and the coconut milk turns to coconut oil. Cooking the meat until tender with almost all the liquid evaporated requires great care, keeping it from getting burnt. Because of its generous use of numerous spices, rendang is known for having a complex and unique taste.
Rendang is often served with steamed rice, ketupat (a compressed rice cake) or lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes), accompanied with vegetable side dishes such as boiled cassava leaf, cubadak (young jackfruit gulai), cabbage gulai and lado (red or green chilli pepper sambal).
Azizah Ja'afar describes the cooking process of rendang (merendang) as involves simmering the meat in spiced coconut milk in an uncovered pot or pan until the coconut milk’s oil separates and coats the meat, giving it a rich, glossy finish. With a slow fire and constant stirring, it takes around three hours for five kilograms of meat to reduce from a broth (when all the ingredients come together in a wok). From there, it requires an additional two hours before reaching the traditional rendang consistency.
Today, rendang is widely enjoyed beyond ceremonial settings and has become a popular souvenir in Padang. While traditionally made with buffalo meat or beef, rendang now features a variety of ingredients. These include chicken, which cooks faster and is more economical; duck, common in areas like Payakumbuh; goat meat, often enjoyed in Agam; and seafood options like shellfish and salted fish. Other creative versions include randang talua, made with tapioca flour and eggs, and shredded beef or chicken rendang, which resembles meat floss but with thicker fibers.
In Minangkabau, randang is broadly categorized into two styles based on regional influences: randang darek and randang pasisia. These variations reflect the geographical and cultural diversity of the highland (darek) and coastal (pasisia) areas of West Sumatra. Each variation of Rendang highlights the versatility of its signature spices, adapting to the availability of ingredients across different regions.
Randang darek focuses on long cooking times, smaller pieces, and a smoky flavor, while randang pasisia highlights spice richness, tenderness, and suitability as a daily dish. Both offer unique qualities that reflect their regional culinary traditions.
In Betty Yew's cookbook "Rasa Malaysia", published in 1982, she takes readers on a culinary journey through the country, featuring 16 rendang recipes that highlight regional nuances. Rendang can be made with a variety of proteins, including buffalo, chicken, duck, mutton, venison, shellfish, birds, and even grasshoppers. Popular regional variations include rendang kerbau (buffalo rendang) from Rembau and rendang udang galah (giant freshwater prawn rendang) from Lenggong. Vegetable ingredients like jackfruit, pucuk teh, pucuk lampin, and pucuk maman (Cleome gynandra) are often added, reflecting the ingenuity of Malay communities in utilizing local resources.
In Perak, rendang is deeply rooted in royal culinary traditions. Notable varieties include rendang tok, rendang ayam (chicken rendang), and rendang udang (shrimp rendang). Rendang tok, a specialty from Bukit Chandan, is a dry curry made with cubed beef, coconut milk, and a rich blend of spices such as cloves, star anise, cumin, cinnamon, chilies, and turmeric. It is enhanced with pan-toasted desiccated coconut and thin strips of coconut flesh, giving it a unique texture and aroma. The final dish is dark and intensely flavorful. Perak’s rendang recipes also incorporate unique ingredients like forest fruits, including kelepong (a seasonal plant from the fig family). In Lenggong, popular rendang varieties include rendang dendeng, and rendang pedas daging dengan lambuk (spicy beef with lambuk yam rendang).
Negeri Sembilan is known for two main types of rendang: rendang kuning (yellow rendang) and rendang hitam (black rendang). Both are cooked until completely dry. Rendang kuning shares ingredients with the region’s signature dish, gulai kuning, such as cili api, turmeric, and coconut milk. In Negeri Sembilan, beef is less commonly used due to its higher water content, which makes it harder to achieve the desired dryness. A traditional recipe also features pucuk ubi (young tapioca leaves), cooked until the mixture is dry and the leaves turn a deep brown color. Rendang daun puding is a type of rendang kuning that incorporates daun puding while rendang kacang includes chicken organs and long beans for added flavor and texture.
In Malacca, a fiery version called rendang cili api, made with bird’s eye chilies, coconut milk, and spices, often features unique ingredients like cockles (rendang kerang). In Johor, the traditional rendang asli includes bird’s eye chilies and thick soy sauce for a distinctive flavor profile. Basmah, a dish popular in Penang and Kedah, closely resembles rendang as it also uses coconut milk and toasted coconut gratings. However, it stands out for its use of a greater variety of fresh spices. In Terengganu and Kelantan, a dish called kerutuk is made from meat mixed with spices and cooked until thick, also said to resemble rendang. The Kristang also has their version of dry beef curry.
Among older generations of Singapore Malays, rendang wasn’t limited to just the classic meat version either. Variations included cattle liver rendang, pigeon rendang, eel rendang, shellfish rendang, jackfruit rendang (prized for its fibrous, meat-like texture), and banana blossom rendang. Some recipes even incorporated petite potatoes to add a carbohydrate element to balance the dish’s rich protein and fat content. For extra depth of flavor, a few tablespoons of kerisik (toasted, grated coconut) could be mixed in. Rendang hijau (green rendang), once a prized dish among the Riau-Singapore nobility, can still be found in the homes of some descendants, though it is becoming increasingly rare.
Rendang is made from beef (or occasionally beef liver, chicken, duck, mutton, water buffalo, or vegetables like jackfruit or cassava). Chicken or duck rendang also contains tamarind and is usually not cooked for as long as beef rendang.
The original Minangkabau rendang has two categories, rendang darek and rendang pesisir. Rendang darek (‘land rendang’) is an umbrella term for dishes from old regions in mountainous areas of the Minangkabau Highlands such as Batusangkar, Agam, Lima Puluh Kota, Payakumbuh, Padang Panjang and Bukittinggi. It mainly consists of beef, offal, poultry products, jackfruit, and many other vegetables and animal products that are found in these places. Rendang pesisir ('coastal rendang') is from the coastal regions of Minangkabau such as Pariaman, Padang, Painan and Pasaman. It mainly consists of seafood, although it is not unusual for it to include beef or water buffalo meat.
Minangkabau Rendang variations:
Today, rendang is quite widespread in Indonesia, mainly because of the proliferation of Padang restaurants, which caused rendang to become popular in Indonesian households of various ethnic backgrounds. This has led to the development of variants to accommodate regional preferences. For example, in Java, the rendang—aside from the Padang variety sold in Padang restaurants—tends to be wetter, slightly sweeter, and less spicy to accommodate Javanese tastes.
Rendang variations outside by the Minangkabau:
Outside of Indonesia, rendang is also known in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, southern Thailand, and the southern Philippines as well as in the Netherlands, Australia, Taiwan, Belgium, and New Zealand.
Rendang has a long history in Malaysia with distinct versions unique to individual Malaysian states. The different versions of rendang use different ingredients for the spice mix, resulting in differing flavors to the meat.
The Dutch are familiar with rendang through colonial ties and often serve the wet kalio version in the Netherlands—usually as part of a rijsttafel. Indonesian dishes, including rendang, are served in numbers of Indonesian restaurants in Dutch cities, especially The Hague, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
In the Philippines, rendang is most commonly associated with the cuisine of the Muslim Maranao people of Mindanao. It differs from the Indonesian versions in the use of the native spice mix palapa as well as the addition of muscovado sugar.
Rendang bumbu is sometimes used as the base of other fusion dishes. Some chefs in Indonesian sushi establishments for example, have developed a Japanese-Indonesian fusion cuisine with recipes for krakatau roll, gado-gado roll, rendang roll and gulai ramen. Several chefs and food industries have experimented with fusing rendang with sandwiches, burgers and spaghetti. Burger King at one time served their take on a rendang-flavoured burger in their Singapore and Indonesia chains for a limited promotion period. Spaghetti with rendang could also be found in 7-Eleven convenience stores across Indonesia.
Rendang is also a popular flavour in Indonesian instant noodle variants, such as the Indomie Goreng Rendang.
Most recently, there were Taiwanese baozis with rendang fillings sold at Neo Soho Mall in West Jakarta.