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Daging smoor

Semur daging: Indo-Dutch beef braised in sweet soy with nutmeg and clove

Daging smoor, from the Dutch 'smoren', to braise, is the Indo-Dutch version of Indonesian semur: beef braised for hours in kecap manis sweet soy sauce with onion, garlic, nutmeg, clove and a little tomato, until tender and coated in a dark, glossy, sweet-savoury sauce. It is a Sunday and rijsttafel dish in Indo-Dutch families in The Hague and is served with rice and atjar. A common mistake is a hard boil, which makes the meat tough and the sauce too salty as it reduces. Chef's tip: add the nutmeg at the start and a pinch more at the end, so its warmth runs through and the fresh aroma comes through on top.
Total time
170 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the smoor

To serve

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Fresh ingredients (4)

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Brown 1 ¾ lb beef chuck in 3 tbsp sunflower oil in batches over a high heat, 4 minutes each.

    12 min
  2. Step 2: Add 3 onions and fry 8 minutes, until soft and golden. Add 4 cloves garlic for 1 minute.

    9 min
  3. Step 3: Add 5 tbsp kecap manis, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp tomato purée, three-quarters of ⅜ tsp ground nutmeg, 3 whole cloves, ½ tsp black pepper and 2 cups water. Cover and simmer gently for 2 hours, until tender. Common mistake: a hard boil; tough meat.

    120 min
  4. Step 4: Uncover and simmer 15 minutes, until the sauce is glossy. Add the rest of ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg and serve with 1 ⅓ lb cooked rice.

    15 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
480 kcal
Protein
38 g
Carbs
18 g
Fat
27 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does daging smoor take?
About 170 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 150 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
What can I use instead of onions?
2 shallots per onion.
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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