Asem-Asem Buncis: Tamarind Green Bean Soup with Beef Broth

Method8 steps · about 1 hr 30 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Place all the tamarind (50 g) in a small bowl, add ⅓ cup of water, rub the tamarind to dilute it in the water to make tamarind juice. Sieve the juice using a fine strainer, then keep aside.

   Uses 50 g tamarind · 1/3 cup water for diluting tamarind, additional to broth water

2. 2

   Step 2: In a pan, put the beef, salt (to taste) and water (1.5 litres), then cook on high heat until it boils. Once it’s boiled, lower the heat to a small-medium flame. Cover the pot and continue cooking.

   Uses 500 g beef trimmings or stewing chunks · 1.5 litres water for beef broth · Salt to taste, for broth and final seasoning

3. 3

   Step 3: Put the vegetable oil (3 tablespoons) in a frying pan over medium heat. Saute the sliced garlic (3 cloves), shallots (7), shrimp paste (⅓ tsp), galangal (4 cm) and bay leaves (2) until fragrant, around 4 minutes.

   Sauté soup aromatics until fragrant · 4 minUses 3 tablespoons vegetable oil · 7 medium shallots, thinly sliced · 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced · ⅓ tsp shrimp paste (optional) · 4 cm galangal, bruised · 2 bay leaves, fresh or dried

4. 4

   Step 4: Add the sautéed spices to the soup.

   Uses Simmering beef and broth · Sautéed soup spices

5. 5

   Step 5: Add tamarind juice, sweet soy sauce (5 tablespoons), sugar (to taste) and salt (to taste) to the soup.

   Uses Beef broth with sautéed spices · Prepared strained tamarind juice · 5 tablespoons sweet soy sauce · Sugar to taste · Salt to taste, for broth and final seasoning

6. 6

   Step 6: Simmer the soup further for around 45 minutes or until the meat is tender. Adjust the seasoning. It should be a balance of sweet, sour and salty.

   Simmer beef soup · 45 minUses Seasoned tamarind beef soup

7. 7

   Step 7: When the soup is ready, add the green beans (300 g), baby corn (200 g) and bird’s eye chillies (10). Cook for about 5 minutes.

   Cook green beans, baby corn and optional whole chillies · 5 minUses Tamarind beef soup with tender meat · 300 g green beans, cut into 3 cm lengths · 200 g baby corn, cut into 2 cm lengths · 10 bird’s eye chillies

8. 8

   Step 8: Add the tomatoes and turn off the heat.

   Uses Prepared beef and vegetable soup · 2 red tomatoes, quartered