Sop Buntut: Indonesian Oxtail Soup

Method10 steps · about 3 hr

1. 1

   Step 1: Put the oxtail (1 kg) into a pot. Add enough water to cover the oxtail, and bring to a boil.

   Uses 1 kg oxtail, cut into small pieces · Water to cover oxtail for initial blanching (quantity unspecified; discard afterwards)

2. 2

   Step 2: Turn off the heat immediately after the water boils. Drain the water and rinse the oxtail with cold water.

   Uses briefly boiled oxtail

3. 3

   Step 3: Add another 2.5 ltr of cold water to the pot containing the oxtail. Bring to a boil, then immediately lower the heat. Add salt (to taste).

   Uses drained and rinsed blanched oxtail · 2.5 l water · Salt to taste

4. 4

   Step 4: Blend the shallots (8) and all 5 garlic cloves into a fine paste.

   Uses 8 shallots, peeled · 5 cloves garlic, peeled.

5. 5

   Step 5: Heat the vegetable oil (3 tbsp) in a small frying pan and then shallow fry the paste until fragrant, around 4 minutes. Add the fried paste to the soup.

   Fry shallot-garlic paste · 4 minUses simmering oxtail broth · 3 tbsp vegetable oil · shallot-garlic paste

6. 6

   Step 6: Add the white pepper (1/4 tsp), grated nutmeg (½ tsp), whole cloves (3) and 3 cm cinnamon to the soup.

   Uses oxtail soup with fried aromatic paste · 1/4 tsp white pepper · ½ tsp grated nutmeg · 3 whole cloves · 3 cm cinnamon

7. 7

   Step 7: Simmer until the oxtail is tender, about 2 hours. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.

   Simmer oxtail until tender · 120 minUses spiced oxtail soup · Salt to adjust, if needed

8. 8

   Step 8: When the oxtail is tender, add the potatoes (2) and carrots (2), cook for around 7 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

   Cook potatoes & carrots · 7 minUses tender oxtail in spiced broth · 2 medium potatoes, cut into small pieces. · 2 carrots, peeled, washed, and cut into small pieces

9. 9

   Step 9: Add the spring onions (2) and tomato (1), and turn off the heat immediately.

   Uses oxtail soup with cooked potatoes and carrots · 2 spring onions, cut into small pieces (about 2 cm long) · 1 medium tomato, quartered

10. 10

    Step 10: Serve with white steamed rice and sambal.

    Uses finished oxtail soup · Ready-cooked white rice, to serve (quantity unspecified) · Ready-made sambal, to serve (quantity unspecified)