Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup

Name: Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indonesian
Ingredients: 4 lbs oxtail pieces, rinsed; 8 cups water; 6 shallots, thinly sliced; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced; 2 cinnamon sticks; 4 whole cloves; 2 star anise pods; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola); 2 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground white pepper; 2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in chunks; 2 cups carrots, cut in chunks; 2 celery stalks, sliced; 4 green onions, sliced; 4 tbsp fried shallots (store-bought or homemade)

A rich Indonesian oxtail soup fragrant with warm spices, tender fall-off-the-bone oxtail, and a clear golden broth. Plan ahead: allow 2 hours for the oxtail to become fully tender.

90 minMediumServes 4410 cal/serving

IndonesianSoupPressure CookerStandardHigh FiberLow CarbGluten-FreeDairy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

4 lbs oxtail pieces, rinsed
8 cups water
6 shallots, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
2 star anise pods
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in chunks
2 cups carrots, cut in chunks
2 celery stalks, sliced
4 green onions, sliced
4 tbsp fried shallots (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

1

Place 4 lbs oxtail pieces in the pressure cooker, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes to blanch. Drain, rinse the oxtail, and rinse the pot clean.
2

Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola) in the pressure cooker over medium heat. Add 6 thinly sliced shallots, 6 minced garlic cloves, and 2 inches sliced fresh ginger; sauté until golden and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
3

Add the blanched oxtail back to the pot. Pour in 8 cups water and add 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise pods, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground white pepper, and 2 tsp salt.
4

Seal the pressure cooker lid and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Release pressure naturally for 15 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
5

Open the lid and skim off excess fat from the surface. Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce. Add 2 cups cut in chunks Yukon Gold potatoes and 2 cups cut in chunks carrots, reseal, and cook on high pressure for 5 more minutes, then quick-release.
6

Remove the whole spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise). Stir in 2 sliced celery stalks and taste for seasoning. The oxtail should be fully tender and fall easily off the bone; internal temperature should read at least 160°F (71°C).
7

Ladle into bowls and top with 4 sliced green onions and 4 tbsp fried shallots (store-bought or homemade).

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Questions

What is Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup?

A rich Indonesian oxtail soup fragrant with warm spices, tender fall-off-the-bone oxtail, and a clear golden broth. Plan ahead: allow 2 hours for the oxtail to become fully tender. This reference files it under Indonesian soup: made in a pressure cooker, rated medium and about 90 minutes start to finish.

What internal temperature should Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup reach?

For Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup, the target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 6. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why blanch first in Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup?

Step 1 reads: "Place 4 lbs oxtail pieces in the pressure cooker, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes to blanch." The quick boil in step 1 sets the color and takes off the raw edge. If the step follows it with cold water, that is to stop the cooking at once so the vegetables stay bright and crisp.

Is there a substitute for fish sauce in Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup?

The entry for Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup calls for 2 tbsp fish sauce. In its place: Soy sauce with a squeeze of lime covers the salt and some of the savor. For a vegetarian version, use a mushroom-based soy sauce. Start with the same volume and adjust.

Does Sop Buntut Oxtail Soup contain fish?

Yes: 2 tbsp fish sauce. The full allergen list for this entry is fish. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

Nasi Kuning side
Urap salad
Acar Timun side

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