Soto Betawi

Name: Soto Betawi
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 100 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indonesian
Ingredients: 500g beef brisket, cubed; 200g beef tripe, cleaned and cubed (optional); 400ml coconut milk; 200ml whole milk; 2 tomatoes, quartered; 2 potatoes, cubed; 8 shallots; 5 cloves garlic; 3 candlenuts (kemiri); 2 cm ginger; 2 cm galangal; 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised; 4 kaffir lime leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 cloves; 1 tsp white pepper; Salt; Fried shallots; Emping crackers; Lime wedges

Soto Betawi (SO-toh beh-TAH-wee)

Jakarta Beef Milk Soup

⏱ Prep Time 2 hours

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 518 kcal

A rich, creamy Jakarta-style beef soup with coconut milk and regular milk, loaded with tender beef, potatoes, and tomatoes, topped with fried shallots and emping crackers.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 30.0g

Carbs 32.0g

Fat 30.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ coconut ⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

large pot mortar and pestle ladle

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep bowl

Garnishes: fried shallots, emping, lime wedge

Accompaniments: steamed rice, sambal, kerupuk

Ingredients

500g beef brisket, cubed
200g beef tripe, cleaned and cubed (optional)
400ml coconut milk
200ml whole milk
2 tomatoes, quartered
2 potatoes, cubed
8 shallots
5 cloves garlic
3 candlenuts (kemiri)
2 cm ginger
2 cm galangal
2 stalks lemongrass, bruised
4 kaffir lime leaves
1 cinnamon stick
3 cloves
1 tsp white pepper
Salt
Fried shallots
Emping crackers
Lime wedges

Instructions

1
Grind shallots, garlic, candlenuts, ginger, and white pepper into a paste.
2
Boil beef (and tripe if using) in water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse. Return to pot with fresh water and simmer for 1 hour.
3
In a separate pan, sauté the spice paste with galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, cinnamon, and cloves until fragrant.
4
Add the sautéed spice paste to the beef pot. Add potatoes and cook 15 minutes.
5
Pour in coconut milk and whole milk. Add tomatoes. Simmer gently for 15 minutes (do not boil vigorously or milk will curdle).
6
Season with salt. Serve in bowls topped with fried shallots, emping crackers, and lime wedges.

💡

Did You Know?

Soto Betawi is one of the only Indonesian sotos that uses cow's milk in addition to coconut milk, a heritage from the Dutch colonial era when dairy was introduced to Jakarta.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
mortar and pestle
ladle

Garnishing

fried shallots, emping, lime wedge

Accompaniments

steamed rice, sambal, kerupuk

The Story Behind Soto Betawi

Soto Betawi is the signature soup of the Betawi people, the original inhabitants of Jakarta. It uniquely combines coconut milk with cow's milk, reflecting the multicultural influences that have shaped Jakarta over centuries — Malay, Chinese, Arab, and Dutch. The Betawi culinary tradition is one of Indonesia's most syncretic, and soto Betawi is its crown jewel.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch, anytime 📜 Origins: Betawi (Jakarta native) tradition

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