mealt and bone soup ala palembang ( pindang tulang palembang )

Ingredients:
1 kg/2 lb beef meat with bones ( spare rib)
1 stem lemon grass, outer leave discard, bruished
2 salam leaves or bay leaves
2 cm or 1 tsp ginger, bruished or sliced
2 cm or 1 tsp galangale, bruished or sliced
1 tomato, quartered
3 large red / green chillies, de-seeded, halved
5 small red chillies / bird chillies (optional)
a handfull of sweet basil / kemangi
3 tbsp tamarind water (1 tsp tamarind pulp soak in 3 tbsp water)
1 tsp indonesian sweet soya sauce / kecap manis
1 tsp palm sugar
salt to taste
sugar to taste
1.5 lt / 3 pints water

Spice Paste:
2 large red chillies, de-seeded, chopped
5 shallots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped


Manggo Sambal (if preferrec):
2 tsp chopped young manggo / ananas, 3 small chillies
a thin slice of roasted shrimp paste / terasi, palm sugar & salt to taste


Directions:
Put all ingredients for the paste in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
(If necessery add a little bit water to help the blending process).
Pour in 1.5 liter water in a deep saucepan, cover the pan and bring to boil.
Adjust the heat into medium, *** add the beef meat / spare rib and cook until half cooked.
(If necessary skim off and discard the fat that floats to the water surface).
Add the paste, lemon grass, salam leaves, ginger, galangale and bring the whole mix to boil again.
Consecutively add the chilies, kecap manis, brown sugar and tamarind water.
Adjust the seasoning, add the salt and sugar to taste until it tastes sour, sweet and spicy.
(If preferred you can add 1 tsp broth powder).
Add the sliced tomatoes and sweet basil. Lift.
Serve with rice and manggo / ananas sambal ( if preffered).
Manggo/ Ananas sambal:
Grind the chillies, roasted shrimp paste and salt in a mortar until smooth.
Add the chopped young manggo / ananas on it. Ready to serve.

*** Add the meat into boiled water then cook on the medium heat to preserve it's best taste.