Rawon (Indonesian Beef Soup)

Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 40 mins
Level of difficulty: 4/5

Ingredients

a) Beef (fatty parts are great) - cut into squares, 3cm x 3cm
b) 1.5 litres water
c) 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised
d) 8 kaffir lime leaves, shredded into small pieces
e) 2 beef cubes
f) 2 teaspoons grounded white pepper
g) Long beans, cut into 3cm length
h) Adequate vegetable oil

To blend:

i) 5 red onions
j) 5 cloves garlic
k) 1 tablespoon grounded coriander
l) 6 blacknuts (buah keluak) - just the kernels (the kernels can be bought at wet markets)
m) 6 red chillies
n) 5 candlenuts
o) 3cm galangal, sliced
p) 3 teaspoons sugar
q) 5 teaspoons salt

Heat up oil in a pot. Fry the blended ingredients and the shredded kaffir lime leaves till fragrant. Add in beef and fry till browned. Pour in water, add grounded white pepper, beef cubes, and cook till beef is tender. Add long beans and let soup boil till long beans, soften. Serve with hot rice, salted eggs, sambal belacan and fried tempeh.

Fried Macaroni with Minced Meat

Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Level of difficulty: 2/5

Ingredients

a) Some minced meat - I like minced beef
b) 1 yellow onion, sliced
c) 3 garlic, chopped
d) 2 tablespoons olive oil/vegetable oil
e) 3 tablespoons chilli paste - either buy those ready ones from the markets or make your own by boiling some dried chillies in water to soften them. After that, blend them with a little bit of water and blend till it forms a paste.
f) 3 tablespoons tomato sauce
g) 2 tablespoons chilli sauce
h) 2 whole tomatoes, quartered
i) 1 teaspoon salt
j) 250g macaroni - prepare it by boiling in water that has 1 tablespoon of oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt added in. Once macaroni has soften, drain it in a colander and run it under running water so it doesn't stick together.
k) Some celery, chopped
l) Some coriander/chinese parsley leaves, chopped

Heat up oil in wok. Fry onion and garlic for about 2 mins. Add chilli paste and fry till frangrant. Add minced meat and fry till browned. Add in a bit of water, if needed. Add in tomato sauce, chilli sauce, quartered tomatoes and celery and fry for another 1-2 mins. Lastly, add in salt and macaroni. Make sure the macaroni is coated with the sauce before serving it with the chopped leaves.