Soto Betawi (Beef coconut soup)
Soto Betawi is a rich Indonesian beef and coconut milk soup made with tender chuck steak, aromatic spice paste, lemongrass and makrut lime leaves. The Thermomix grinds the whole spices, blends the aromatic paste and simmers the coconut broth hands-free without curdling, delivering an authentic Jakarta street-food classic with minimal effort.
About this recipe
Soto Betawi Thermomix TM7 is the Jakarta street-food classic you can now recreate at home with your all-in-one kitchen machine. This creamy beef and coconut milk soup, packed with tender chuck steak, lemongrass, cardamom and makrut lime leaves, is exactly the kind of recipe the TM7 excels at: the grinding function turns whole coriander seeds into freshly ground spice, the blades blend the Indonesian spice paste into a silky base, and gentle automatic stirring keeps the coconut milk broth smooth without splitting. Searching for Soto Betawi recipes often leads to complicated stovetop methods, but this Thermomix version controls everything precisely, from spice grinding to simmering, so you get an authentic, restaurant-quality result with far less effort. Serve it as a warming weekend main course or an impressive starter at a dinner party, topped with fried shallots, tomato and emping crackers for real Indonesian flair.
Preparation tips
- For the deepest flavour, cut the beef chuck steak into large chunks so it stays juicy during the long simmer, and only slice it just before serving so it retains its tenderness in the coconut broth.
- Bruise the lemongrass stalks and crack the cardamom pods before adding them to the mixing bowl; this releases their essential oils into the Soto Betawi broth far more effectively than leaving them whole.
- If salam leaves are hard to find, substitute bay leaves plus a strip of lime zest; serve the soup with fried shallots, diced tomato and emping crackers for an authentic Jakarta finish.
- Prepare the Indonesian spice paste a day ahead and store it in the fridge; the flavours deepen overnight and your Soto Betawi comes together even faster on cooking day.
Recipe variations
- For a lighter version, replace half of the coconut milk with extra beef stock and add cubes of potato and tomato; the soup becomes less rich while keeping the signature Soto Betawi spice character.
- For a festive Indonesian spread, serve the Soto Betawi buffet-style with small bowls of accompaniments such as fried shallots, spring onions, sambal, pickled cucumber and emping crackers so everyone customises their own bowl.
Why this recipe works
Craving the rich, aromatic flavours of Indonesian cuisine but short on time? Soto Betawi is a traditional beef coconut soup that typically requires hours of simmering. Fortunately, the Thermomix TM7 transforms this complex dish into a quick, effortless meal. By precisely controlling the temperature and speed, the TM7 develops deep flavours whilst you focus on other tasks. It is the ultimate kitchen companion for busy professionals who refuse to compromise on taste, delivering authentic, tender results in record time.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Fresh spice grinding - The Thermomix grinds whole coriander seeds and cardamom into fragrant powder in seconds for maximum aroma. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Built-in scale - The integrated TM7 scale weighs coconut milk and beef stock paste directly in the bowl, accurate to the gram. [Weighing]. [Built-in Scale]
- Precise chopping - The Thermomix chops lemongrass, shallots and galangal into a fine, even spice paste without uneven bits. [Chopping]. [Precision Control]
- Gentle heating - The TM7 simmers the coconut broth at controlled temperature, preventing the coconut milk from splitting or burning. [Heating]. [Precision Control]
- Silky blending - The Thermomix mixes the Indonesian spice paste into a smooth, aromatic base that infuses the beef evenly. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- beef chuck steak
- Indonesian white spice paste
- white cardamom pods
- lemongrass
- makrut lime leaves
- fresh salam leaves
- ground coriander
- Beef stock paste
- sea salt
- ground white pepper