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.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs oxtail pieces, rinsed
- 8 cups water
- 6 shallots, thinly sliced
- 6 cloves 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 stalks celery stalks, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 4 tbsp fried shallots (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
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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.
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2
Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola) in the pressure cooker over medium heat. Add 6 thinly sliced shallots, 6 cloves minced garlic cloves, and 2 inches sliced fresh ginger; sauté until golden and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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6
Remove the whole spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise). Stir in 2 stalks 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).
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7
Ladle into bowls and top with 4 sliced green onions and 4 tbsp fried shallots (store-bought or homemade).