Soto Padang / Padang Style Soup

Soto Padang, Indonesian Soup Recipe:

Padang cuisine, famous for their spicy food. This soto I have here is one of the many of their cuisines. Flavourful, spicy and the lime in this Soto... Yum... Yum... Yum... "Selamat menikmati..."

1 1/2 lb lean beef
2 1/2 litre water
2 TB salt
3 tsp sugar
1 stalk lemon grass, bruised
5 whole cloves
2 cardamom, take out the husk
2 star anise
3 inches ginger, sliced
1 tsp turmeric
6 kaffir lime leaves, teared

Spice Paste:
10 shallots
5 garlic
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp white pepper
4 TB oil

In the pot, boil the beef (cut the beef in 4 portions) in water with all the ingredients. Skim off any foam or other impurities from the surface. When the water is clear, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer.
Meanwhile, prepare the Spice Paste ,combine all the ingredients in the blender and process to a smooth paste. Pour into a wok and cook over medium heat until the liquid almost gone. Add 6 TB oil, continue frying until fragrant (about 4 minutes) and add the Spice Paste into the beef. Continue cooking until the beef is tender.
Remove all the debris from the broth and discard. Adjust the taste and keep the broth warm until further use.

Take the beef out and slice into 1/2 inch. Heat 1 cup oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the slices beef until golden brown and set aside. Whenever you are ready to serve then add the beef to the broth and serve with the condiment.

Condiment To Serve:
2 whole cellophane noodles soaked in water until soft and cut up little bit for easier handling
2 Tomatoes diced
3 stalk celery, finely chopped and mix with
3 green onion, thinly sliced
fried onions
lime wedges
sambal soto
And of course, plain white rice

Padang: means field, it's the capital city of West Sumatra, it's located on the western coast of Sumatra. The cuisines are famous for their spicy food and their unique way of serving it. The way the food served in small portions of various dishes on the table. Customers choose and take what they desire from the array of dishes and pay only what they eat. The best known Padang dish is Rendang (a spicy meat stew). Soto Padang (crispy beef in spicy soup) usually is eaten for breakfast. While the Sate Padang (combinations of meat and intestine satay in thick curry sauce served with rice compressed) is the treat in the evening.