Indonesian soups are often served with rice and they are quite different to other types of Asian soup. Indonesian soup recipes are aromatic and often contain flavors like candlenuts, galangal, lemongrass, and chilies. Some Indonesian soups contain ingredients you can only get in Indonesia but there are lots of Asian stores where you can pick up these spices or similar ones.
Beef, chicken, tofu, vegetables, and more can all feature in Indonesian soup recipes and, contrary to popular belief, not all Indonesian soups are hot and spicy, although some certainly are. Meatball soup is popular in Indonesia and is often served with noodles, tofu and eggs, as well as vegetables.
Popular condiments, which are served with these soups, include lime wedges, hardboiled egg slices, fried peanuts, green onion, fried garlic, fried coconut flakes, and slices of chilies.
You might like to saute some coconut flakes and peanuts in a non-stick skillet until they are fragrant and golden brown. Keep this mixture in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a couple of months, sprinkling it over any Asian recipes you make. This mixture is delicious with curries as well as soup recipes.
What is Indonesian Chicken Soup Like?
If you like to make chicken soup recipes, you might wonder what Indonesian chicken soup is like. Actually, it is really flavorful and is often served with rice, noodles, and potato croquettes to make it satisfying.
Lime, shallots, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric are popular ingredients in Indonesian chicken soup, although the recipes do vary. Some soups contain coconut milk, to sweeten them and add a luxurious creaminess.
Recipe for Indonesian Beef Soup
This delicious beef soup recipe originated from Madura, which is the largest island in East Java. This soup is great for lunch or dinner and serving it with rice makes it satisfying and filling.
What you will need:
1/2 lb beef
2 chopped stalks celery
1 chopped green onion
1 cube beef bouillon
2 sliced hard boiled eggs
1 1/2 pints water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 sliced, fried cloves garlic
1 lime
Fried shallots, for garnish
Salt, to taste
White sugar, to taste
For the spice paste:
2 tablespoons turmeric
5 shallots
3 cloves garlic
2 inches fresh ginger
4 almonds or 3 candlenuts
How to make it:
Simmer the piece of beef in the water for twenty minutes. You might need more water. Slice the beef up and return it to the water. Heat the oil in a wok over a moderate heat, then stir fry the paste ingredients for a couple of minutes or until fragrant.
Put the beef bouillon and fried paste into the water, along with some sugar and salt to taste. Cook the soup, covered, over a moderate heat until the beef is tender, adding more water if required. Crush the fried garlic and add it, with the green onion and celery. Serve the soup hot with rice, slices of lime, fried shallots, and egg slices.
