The Genius Idea that is Simply Cook (plus wicked Rendang Recipe)

I love buying presents for people.  Whether it is Christmas, a birthday or ‘just because’, I love finding the perfect present for someone – a gift that shows that I know them and accept them for who they are.  Occasionally when I am a little skint, I made biscuits or cake or biscotti or even soup as nothing says I love you quite like a homemade dish.  So when it came to finding one of my male friends the ideal Christmas present, I found Simply Cook.  

This is a genius idea whereby you get sent 4 x spices as well as recipes once a month so you can wander outside your foodie comfort zone and try something without worrying that you don’t have the essential ingredient.   He love the pack I gave him and – in fact – asked for their contact details so he could sign up himself.

With thanks to the goodwebguide.co.uk

However predictably, I forgot to cancel the subscription so I had 2 boxes to add to my already bulging list of recipes I wanted to try.  The first one I tried was Beef Rendang – this is essentially a spicy meat dish from Indonesia bursting with flavour and the richness of coconut milk.  And it was brilliant so let me share the recipe

Oil for frying

250g of braising beef

400ml can of coconut milk

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 large potato, chopped into cubs

Rendang Paste (1 tbsp fresh ginger, 1tbsp chopped galangal, 1tsp turmeric, 1 stalk of lemon grass, 6 long red chilis)

Garlic Puree

•  Add the oil to a frying pan and flash fry the beef until browned.
• Now set aside and create the Rendang paste by blitzing the ingrediants together until smooth
• Place the potato, onion and garlic into the frying pan and fry together for about 3 minutes
• Add the paste and fry for a further 2 minutes
• Pour in the coconut milk and cook gently for 10 minutes
• Add the beef and cook for a final 2 minutes
• Serve with rice

With thanks to FeastAsia

And enjoy this delightfully spicy creamy moreish dish

L xx

N.B. – The nice folks at www.simplycook.com provide you with the Rendang paste so I’ve included the ingrediants in case you can’t get hold of this.

P.S. – Follow me on Twitter @littleofwhatyou if you fancy hearing my thoughts on food and life