Soto Betawi is a traditional Indonesian soup from Betawi, the native people of Jakarta. It is a rich and flavorful soup, made with beef, tomatoes, and coconut milk. This recipe is for the best Soto Betawi you’ll ever taste!

**Ingredients:**

* 1 pound beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
* 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 quarts beef broth
* 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
* 10 tomatoes, peeled and diced
* 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 1/4 cup fried shallots
* 1 tablespoon lime juice
* Sambal, to taste

**Instructions:**

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the beef cubes in the vegetable oil.
2. Add the onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, or until the spices are fragrant.
3. Pour in the beef broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beef is tender.
4. Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the tomatoes are softened.
5. Stir in the cilantro, fried shallots, and lime juice.
6. Serve immediately with sambal, if desired.

**Tips:**

* For a richer flavor, use beef chuck roast with a good amount of marbling.
* To make the soup ahead of time, cook the beef and vegetables according to the recipe and then let it cool completely. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, reheat the soup over medium heat until warmed through.
* Serve Soto Betawi with steamed rice, vermicelli noodles, or lontong (Indonesian rice cakes).