Sop Buntut (Indonesian Oxtail Soup)

Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 330 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

Oxtail and vegetables are simmered for hours into a deeply comforting soup with complex flavors in this recipe for Indonesian sop buntut.

Ingredients

4 shallots, peeled and halved
1 large onion, quartered, divided
1 (2 inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced across the grain
5 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tablespoons canola oil
6 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 pounds meaty oxtail pieces, at room temperature
3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces, divided
4 cups water, or as needed to cover
3 waxy potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
3 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 ripe roma tomatoes, sliced horizontally into 1/2-inch wedges
1 (2 4/5 ounce) can French-fried onions

Directions

1 Combine shallots, 2 onion quarters, ginger, and garlic in a food processor; pulse into a paste.
2 Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat; cook and stir cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shallot paste and fry until fragrant and slightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add oxtails; cook and stir until browned, about 5 minutes.
3 Stir remaining onion quarters, celery, and 2 carrots into the pot. Pour in enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until oxtail is tender, about 5 hours.
4 Stir potatoes, 3 carrots, salt, and black pepper into the pot. Increase heat and simmer soup until potatoes and carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Add sugar and fish sauce; stir well to combine.
5 Ladle soup into large serving bowls; top with tomato wedges and French-fried onions.