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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Semur daging with rice

Semur daging is an Indonesian beef stew simmered in kecap manis with nutmeg and clove, served with potatoes and rice. For 4 people, it takes 1 hour 40 minutes and stays easy to make, at around €3.50 per serving. The key is a long, gentle simmer that softens the chuck beef and concentrates the sauce.

It's chilly out, so how about a semur daging, a mild Indonesian beef stew with nutmeg and clove, served with potatoes.

Semur daging with rice
Total time
1 h 40
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.50
Calories per person
620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Semur daging smells like a home that has been simmering all day. The beef chuck cooks slowly in a dark kecap manis sauce, lightly sweet and salty, lifted by a touch of nutmeg and a single clove. The potatoes cook right in that broth and soak up the flavor without falling apart, and the white rice is there to catch the glossy sauce left at the end.

This is a fall or winter dish that takes time but barely any watching, perfect for a Sunday when the pot can simmer away while you do something else. Kids tend to like it because the spices stay mild, never sharp, and the tender beef is easy to eat with just a fork.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Beef chuck 800 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 600 g
  • Onion 2
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Tomatoes 2

Pantry

  • Kecap manis 4 tbsp
  • White riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Clovesoften in the pantry 2
  • Cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the beef into cubes and brown it in a pot with the oil. Set aside. 8 min

    Don't add all the meat at once, it would steam instead of browning.

  2. Sauté the sliced onion and garlic, then add the chopped tomatoes, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. 6 min

    Cook the spices for a minute in the fat, they release more aroma that way.

  3. Put the meat back in, add the kecap manis, and cover with water. Let it simmer covered. 1 h

    Keep the heat very low, the meat should be fork tender.

  4. Add the potatoes in large chunks and continue cooking. 25 min

    Cut them large so they don't fall apart in the sauce.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water and serve the stew with its glossy sauce. 12 min

    Remove the cloves before serving, nobody wants to bite into one.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a chuck roast with some marbling rather than a very lean cut, the fat melts during cooking and makes the sauce richer.
  • Taste the sauce before adding salt, kecap manis is already salty and sweet, so you risk overseasoning.
  • If the sauce is still thin at the end, remove the lid for the last fifteen minutes so it can reduce.

The variations

  • Swap the chuck for beef shank or cheek, both become just as tender with a long simmer.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with tempeh or seitan chunks and shorten the simmer to about 20 minutes.
  • For a quick weeknight version or for kids, cut the potatoes smaller and reduce the beef simmering time to 40 minutes.

What to serve it with

  • Plain steamed rice
  • Fresh sliced cucumber
  • Warm unsweetened tea

Storage

Semur daging keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and the sauce often tastes even better the next day. It freezes well for up to 2 months, without the rice. Reheat it gently on the stove with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can you make semur daging ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually better that way. Make it the day before so the sauce has time to soak up the spices, then reheat it gently when you're ready to serve.

What is kecap manis and can you substitute it?

Kecap manis is a thick, sweet Indonesian soy sauce. If you don't have any, mix regular soy sauce with a bit of brown sugar or honey to get close to that flavor.

Does semur daging freeze well?

Yes, the beef and sauce freeze very well for up to 2 months. Freeze the rice separately since it loses texture once thawed.

Can you use a different beef cut instead of chuck?

Yes, beef shank or cheek both work just as well. Pick a cut meant for slow cooking with some fat for a rich sauce.

How long does it take to make a semur daging, an Indonesian beef stew with nutmeg, potatoes, and rice?

Count 1 h 40 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a semur daging, an Indonesian beef stew with nutmeg, potatoes, and rice?

About 620 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a semur daging, an Indonesian beef stew with nutmeg, potatoes, and rice cost?

About €3.50 per serving, or €14.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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