Beef Randang recipe: Gordon Ramsay Uncharted tackles this iconic dish

Can you master this Beef Randang recipe from Gordon Ramsay Uncharted?

Have you ever tried to make a Beef Randang recipe? In the Gordon Ramsay Uncharted Sumatra episode, Gordon gets guidance from the legendary William Wongso. While this iconic dish is widely celebrated, the skill to develop the robust flavor takes a deft hand.

Beef Randang is a traditional, spicy Indonesian dish. It is considered a national dish of Indonesia. Usually, the dish is served at ceremonial or special occasions.

Often using beef, the meat is slow cooked with a myriad of spices and coconut milk. As the meat cooks, the liquids evaporate and the resulting dish becomes dark, caramelized and full flavored.

The name of the dish itself means slow cooking. Whether cooked in a wok or a pot, the chef must have patience when making this dish. This dish cannot be rushed. The slow, careful cooking helps for each bite to develop that spicy, nuanced flavor.

More importantly, the slow cooking helps to preserve the meat. This dish is considered very durable, which is important in the hot, humid climate. When refrigeration is limited, this type of dish is important. It can keep for several day.

Although there are various recipes, the spice mixture is key to any Beef Randang. All of the spices are ground together to create a paste.

In this Gordon Ramsay Uncharted episode, a traditional Sumatran method is used, which is similar to a mortar and pestle. While the home cook may not have this method, a blender can be used to combine all the spices.

Here’s the Beef Randang recipe from Gordon Ramsay Uncharted.

Looking at the recipe, a few ingredients might be a little difficult to source. Candlenuts are usually not commonly found in a nut mix. If you cannot find this ingredient, consider swapping macadamia nuts. Another option would be cashews or almonds.

In this recipe, galangal is used, which is another uncommon ingredient. A swap for this ingredient would be to combine ginger root and lemon juice.

Of course, like any recipe, personal preferences are important. Even though this blend of spices is part of this Beef Randang recipe, you can modify it. If you prefer less spice, reduce the peppers. Just like any recipe, the cook can add her own take on a dish to make it her own.

While Beef Randang is a traditional dish, some cooks may be unfamiliar. While it might seem like a culinary adventure to attempt this recipe, any cook can explore cuisines and flavors. If a home cook has learned to perfect that chili which takes hours to cook or Grandma’s Sunday sauce that simmers all day, it might be time to explore this nuanced Indonesian dish.

To watch Gordon Ramsay present his Beef Randang recipe turn into Gordon Ramsay Uncharted on Sunday at 10 p.m.

What do you think of this Beef Randang recipe? Will you be trying to make this dish at home?