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Indonesian Soto Betawi

Name: Indonesian Soto Betawi
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1 kg beef brisket, cut into chunks; 2 liters of water; 3 lemongrass stalks, bruised; 4 kaffir lime leaves; 3 bay leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 6 shallots, peeled; 4 cloves of garlic, peeled; 2 teaspoons coriander seeds; 1 teaspoon nutmeg powder; 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled; Salt and pepper, to taste; 400 ml coconut milk; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 teaspoon turmeric powder; 100 grams fried shallots; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 lime, cut into wedges

Soto Betawi is a rich and aromatic beef soup from Jakarta that combines tender chunks of beef with creamy coconut milk, warm spices, and a medley of comforting flavors.

5(860 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 2, 2025

Indonesian Soto Betawi — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h

Cook

3 h

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: 703 kcal
Protein: 35.8 g
Carbs: 17 g
Fat: 55.7 g
Fiber: 2.2 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4216 kcal
Protein: 215 g
Carbs: 102 g
Fat: 334 g
Fiber: 13 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 kg beef brisket cut into chunks	2510	201	0	194	0
2 liters of water	0	0	0	0	0
3 lemongrass stalks bruised	5	0	1	0	0
4 kaffir lime leaves	2	0	0	0	0
3 bay leaves	3	0	1	0	0
1 cinnamon stick	6	0	2	0	1
6 shallots peeled	30	1	7	0	1
4 cloves of garlic peeled	18	1	4	0	0
2 teaspoons coriander seeds	15	1	3	1	1
1 teaspoon nutmeg powder	12	0	1	1	1
1-inch fresh ginger peeled	2	0	1	0	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
400 ml coconut milk	720	4	6	78	0
2 tablespoons vegetable oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 tablespoon sugar	48	0	12	0	0
1 teaspoon turmeric powder	8	0	1	0	1
100 grams fried shallots	567	6	54	32	6
2 green onions sliced	10	1	2	0	1
1 lime cut into wedges	20	0	7	0	2

These estimates are based on typical values and are not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef

1
Combine and Boil
In a large pot, combine beef chunks and water, bringing to a boil.
Tip: Let the beef rest in the broth for additional flavor if time allows.
2
Add Aromatics
Add lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick.
3
Simmer
Simmer for 1.5 hours until beef is tender.
Tip: Monitor the broth carefully to skim off any impurities.

Preparing the Spice Paste

1
Blend Spices
Blend shallots, garlic, coriander seeds, nutmeg, and ginger into a smooth paste.
2
Season Paste
Add salt and pepper to taste.
3
Sauté Paste
In a separate pan, sauté the spice paste in oil over medium heat until fragrant.

How to Make Indonesian Soto Betawi

Total time: 4 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Building the Flavor
Incorporate the sautéed spice paste into the beef broth.
2
Coconut Enrichment
Add coconut milk to the mixture, stirring constantly to avoid curdling.
3
Final Simmer
Bring the entire mixture to a gentle simmer for an additional 30 minutes.