- Dendeng balado is made with juicy selected beef, which is then coated with red chili seasoning that is appetizing. This dish is very popular in Indonesia, especially in Padang restaurants. Dendeng balado can be served in various variations, including dried dendeng and wet dendeng. Both variations of dendeng balado have a distinctive taste, not too spicy, savory, and rich in spices.

To get a tender and soft texture of dendeng balado, pay attention to the selection of the meat. Use tenderloin or beef shank. Make sure the chosen beef is fresh and not excessively fatty. Although dendeng balado does not require a lot of fat, a little oil can be added to help the meat form a crispy outer layer. This step is also important to maintain the balance of taste, texture, and nutritional value in the delicious dendeng balado dish.

Making the perfect and tender dendeng balado also depends on how the meat is cut. Make sure to slice the meat thinly to produce tender dendeng. Thin slices of meat make it easier to enjoy and allow the seasoning to penetrate faster. Thin meat also speeds up the frying process and prevents overcooking. Use a sharp knife to cut the meat thinly for a neat result.

After slicing the meat thinly, marinate the meat with seasonings such as salt, pepper, soy sauce, and sugar according to taste. Don't forget to grind the shallots, garlic, ginger, and salt to give a savory and juicy flavor to the meat. This marination process will eliminate the raw taste of the meat and help the seasonings to penetrate. Store the meat in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. This step allows the seasonings to penetrate well and tenderize the meat while preventing bacterial growth.

Before frying or processing it into dendeng balado, make sure to boil the meat first. This will help tenderize the meat, especially if it is tough. The boiling process will make the meat fibers softer and easier to digest. Boiled meat will also cook faster when fried. This step will save cooking time and result in crispy on the outside and tender on the inside dendeng.

Friend Dream does not need to fry the meat for a long time, just 5-10 minutes is enough. Especially if using thinly sliced meat, the cooking time is shorter. Heat a little oil in a pan over low to medium heat. Fry the meat until it turns brown and cooked. Do not fry the meat for too long to keep it tender and not tough when served. Source: Diadona.