Soup · Main Course · Indonesian ·

Creamy Indonesian Soto Betawi

Name: Creamy Indonesian Soto Betawi
Prep time: 67 min
Cook time: 200 min
Total time: 267 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1 kg beef shank, cut into large chunks; 3 liters water; 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised; 4 kaffir lime leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 5 cloves garlic; 7 shallots; 2 inches ginger; 5 candlenuts; 2 teaspoons coriander powder; 400 ml coconut milk; Salt to taste; 1 teaspoon sugar; 2 medium tomatoes, diced; 1/2 cup fried shallots; 2 stalks green onions, sliced; 1 lime, cut into wedges

Dive into the flavors of Indonesia with Soto Betawi, a creamy beef soup brimming with spices and herbs.

4.1(54 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 13, 2025

Creamy Indonesian Soto Betawi — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 7 min

Cook

3 h 20 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Beef Broth

For the Spice Paste

For the Coconut Milk Mixture

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 635 kcal
Protein: 36.83 g
Carbs: 14.5 g
Fat: 48.17 g
Fiber: 2.33 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3807 kcal
Protein: 221 g
Carbs: 87 g
Fat: 289 g
Fiber: 14 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 kg beef shank cut into large chunks	2600	205	0	195	0
3 liters water	0	0	0	0	0
2 lemongrass stalks bruised	5	0	1	0	0
4 kaffir lime leaves	2	0	0	0	0
1 cinnamon stick	6	0	2	0	1
5 cloves garlic	22	1	5	0	0
7 shallots	28	1	6	0	1
2 inches ginger	12	0	3	0	0
5 candlenuts	110	1	4	11	2
2 teaspoons coriander powder	16	1	3	1	1
400 ml coconut milk	676	6	14	68	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon sugar	16	0	4	0	0
2 medium tomatoes diced	44	2	10	0	2
1/2 cup fried shallots	240	3	26	14	4
2 stalks green onions sliced	10	1	2	0	1
1 lime cut into wedges	20	0	7	0	2

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef

1
Rinse & Dry
Rinse the beef shank pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
2
Rest the Beef
Place the beef in a bowl and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
3
Room Temperature
Ensure beef is at room temperature before cooking.

Preparing the Spice Paste

1
Combine Ingredients
Combine garlic, shallots, ginger, and candlenuts in a food processor.
2
Blend
Add coriander powder and blend until smooth.
3
Sauté Paste
Sauté the paste in hot oil for 5 minutes, until aromatic.
Tip: Use fresh spices for the most aromatic spice paste.

How to Make Creamy Indonesian Soto Betawi

Total time: 4 h 27 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Beef Broth Creation
Place beef, water, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and cinnamon stick into a large stockpot. Simmer on low heat for 2 hours.
2
Integrating Spice Paste
Add the sautéed spice paste to the broth and continue cooking for another 30 minutes.
3
Finalizing Soup
Stir in coconut milk, sugar, and salt. Simmer for 20 minutes, adjusting seasoning as needed.