Lontong Balap Recipe

Lontong Balap is a traditional Indonesian dish from Surabaya, East Java. It's a flavorful combination of compressed rice cakes (lontong) served with a variety of accompaniments, including bean sprouts, tofu, and a savory beef broth. Here's a recipe for making Lontong Balap:

Ingredients

For the Lontong:

- 2 cups of rice

- 4 cups of water

- Banana leaves or foil (for wrapping)

For the Soup:

- 200 grams of beef, cut into small cubes

- 1 liter of beef broth

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced

- 2 shallots, minced

- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

- 1 tablespoon of tamarind paste

- 1 tablespoon of sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)

- 1 teaspoon of ground coriander

- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder

- Salt and pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

- 100 grams of bean sprouts, blanched

- 100 grams of tofu, fried and cut into cubes

- 2 tablespoons of fried shallots

- 2 tablespoons of sambal (chili paste) or chili sauce

- Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Preparing the Lontong:

1. **Wash the rice** thoroughly and soak it in water for about 30 minutes.

2. **Drain the rice** and place it into banana leaves or foil, forming a tight log shape. Secure the ends.

3. **Boil the rice packages** in a large pot of water for about 2 hours, ensuring the rice is fully cooked and compressed. Let cool.

Preparing the Soup:

1. **Heat the vegetable oil** in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the minced garlic and shallots until fragrant.

2. **Add the beef cubes** and cook until browned on all sides.

3. **Stir in the ground coriander, turmeric powder, salt, and pepper**. Cook for a few more minutes to combine the flavors.

4. **Pour in the beef broth** and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beef is tender.

5. **Add the tamarind paste and sweet soy sauce** to the soup. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Assembling the Dish:

1. **Slice the lontong** into bite-sized pieces and place them in serving bowls.

2. **Pour the hot beef soup** over the lontong.

3. **Top with blanched bean sprouts, fried tofu cubes**, and **fried shallots**.

4. **Add a dollop of sambal** or chili sauce on top for extra heat, if desired.

5. **Garnish with fresh cilantro**.

Serving Suggestions

Lontong Balap is typically enjoyed as a hearty meal and can be served with additional side dishes like pickled vegetables or crackers for extra texture.

Enjoy your Lontong Balap!

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