Soto Betawi (Jakarta Creamy Coconut Milk Beef Soup)
Quick answer
Soto Betawi is a Jakarta-born beef soup distinguished by its creamy, coconut-enriched broth and a layered spice profile.
What makes this special
- Soto Betawi is a Jakarta-style beef soup made with a creamy coconut milk broth and warm spices.
- Simmering beef brisket for over an hour until the broth turns milky before adding coconut milk
- Lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves remove off-notes from the meat while releasing their aromatic oils
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Soak 700 g beef brisket in cold water for about 15 minutes to draw out excess blood.
- 2 Chop 1 onion, 6 garlic cloves, and 25 g ginger, then blend them into a smooth paste.
- 3 Heat a little oil in a pot over medium heat and cook the paste for about 3 minutes.
Soto Betawi is a Jakarta-born beef soup distinguished by its creamy, coconut-enriched broth and a layered spice profile. The aromatics begin with a paste of onion, garlic, and ginger, bloomed in oil alongside ground coriander and a cinnamon stick to build a warm, complex base. Beef brisket simmers in this fragrant liquid for forty minutes or more until it yields to the touch, its collagen enriching the stock. Coconut milk and fish sauce are stirred in toward the end, transforming the broth into something rich and velvety while rounding off the sharper spice edges. The finished soup is neither thin nor heavy-it sits in a satisfying middle ground, substantial enough to serve as a main course with steamed rice or crusty bread on the side. Soto Betawi is a point of pride for Jakarta's Betawi community and a fixture of the city's street-food landscape.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Prep
Soak 700 g beef brisket in cold water for about 15 minutes to draw out excess blood.
Drain well, pat dry, cut into large chunks, and trim only thick outer fat.
- 2Prep
Chop 1 onion, 6 garlic cloves, and 25 g ginger, then blend them into a smooth paste.
If the blades catch, add only a small splash of water so the paste stays concentrated.
- 3Control
Heat a little oil in a pot over medium heat and cook the paste for about 3 minutes.
Add 1 teaspoon ground coriander and the cinnamon stick, stirring until the raw onion smell softens.
- 4Step
Add the beef and raise the heat to medium high, turning the pieces until the outside changes color.
If browned bits stick to the bottom, loosen them with a little of the 1500 ml water.
- 5Control
Pour in the remaining water and bring it to a boil, then skim off foam from the surface.
Lower to medium low, keep the lid slightly open, and simmer at least 40 minutes until the beef yields easily.
- 6Control
Reduce the heat to low, then stir in 500 ml coconut milk and 1 tablespoon fish sauce.
Do not boil hard; warm gently for 10 minutes, checking the creamy thickness and seasoning before serving.
After the steps
Pick a recipe that fits this dish.
Continue with shared ingredients, meal pairings, or a similar method.
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