Manado-style Spicy Beef Sauce

Ingredients

In this adaptation, the traditional French Sauce Bourguignonne is transformed into a Manado-style Spicy Beef Sauce by incorporating the bold flavors and spices of Manado cuisine. The addition of sambal dabu-dabu, a fiery chili condiment, gives the dish a unique and spicy twist, elevating it to a whole new level of flavor. We alse have the original recipe for Sauce Bourguignonne, so you can check it out.

• 500g (1.1 lb) beef, thinly sliced 500g (1.1 lb) beef, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised
• 3 shallots, finely chopped 3 shallots, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 2 tomatoes, diced 2 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons sambal dabu-dabu (Manado chili condiment) 2 tablespoons sambal dabu-dabu (Manado chili condiment)
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 18g, 5g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 10g, 4g
• Protein: 35g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the lemongrass, shallots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the beef slices to the pan and cook until browned on all sides.
3. 3.
   Stir in the ground turmeric and diced tomatoes. Cook for another 2 minutes.
4. 4.
   Add the tomato paste, sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce. Stir well to combine.
5. 5.
   Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the beef is tender and the flavors have melded together.
6. 6.
   Stir in the lime juice and sambal dabu-dabu. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. 7.
   Remove the lemongrass stalks before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Lemongrass — Bruise the lemongrass stalks by lightly pounding them with a rolling pin or the back of a knife. This helps release their aromatic oils and enhances the flavor of the sauce.
• Sambal dabu-dabu — Adjust the amount of sambal dabu-dabu according to your spice preference. If you prefer a milder sauce, reduce the amount or omit it altogether.

Tips & Tricks

• For a richer flavor, marinate the beef slices in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for 30 minutes before cooking.
• If you can't find sambal dabu-dabu, you can substitute it with a combination of fresh chili peppers, lime juice, and diced tomatoes.
• Adjust the spiciness of the sauce by adding more or less sambal dabu-dabu according to your preference.
• Serve the Manado-style Spicy Beef Sauce with a side of steamed rice and fresh cucumber slices to balance the heat.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serving advice

Serve the Manado-style Spicy Beef Sauce over steamed rice or with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves for a pop of freshness.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, arrange the beef slices neatly on a serving platter and pour the sauce over them. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro and a lime wedge for an extra touch of color.