Rawon (Black Beef Soup)
East Java's signature black beef soup, coloured and flavoured by keluak nuts, with tender braised beef, bean sprouts, and sambal on the side.
About This Recipe
Rawon is East Java's most distinctive soup — a jet-black, intensely flavourful beef broth coloured entirely by keluak nuts, the fermented seeds of a tropical tree. The unique bitter-earthy flavour of keluak combined with tender braised beef creates something utterly unlike any other soup in the world. It is considered one of Indonesia's most important regional dishes.
Ingredients
Serves 6
- 700 gbeef brisket(cut into cubes)
- 5keluak nuts(or 2 tbsp black sesame paste as substitute)
- 5 shallotsshallots(sliced)
- 4 clovesgarlic
- 1 stalklemongrass(bruised)
- 3 kaffir lime leaveskaffir lime leaves
- 1 tspgalangal powder
- 1 tspturmeric
- 2 litreswater
- 2 tbspoil
- 100 gbean sprouts(to serve)
- 2 tbspsambal(to serve)
Instructions
- 1
Prepare keluak
Crack keluak nuts and scoop out the black paste. Dissolve in a little warm water.
- 2
Make paste
Blend shallots, garlic, galangal, and turmeric into a smooth paste.
- 3
Sauté paste
Fry paste in oil until fragrant, 5 min. Add keluak paste and cook 2 min.
- 4
Simmer
Add beef, lemongrass, lime leaves, and water. Simmer 1.5–2 hours until beef is tender. Season with salt.
- 5
Serve
Ladle into bowls. Top with bean sprouts, hard-boiled eggs (optional). Serve with sambal and steamed rice.
Did you make this?
Rate it and help other cooks find the recipes that actually work.
One tap to sign in, and we'll save the rating you just picked.
Everything you need to plan your week — free
- Meal calendar
- Grocery list
- AI recipe ideas
Track what you eat
Snap your meal to log calories and macros, run fasting timers and track water in the free SnapCal app.
Pro Tips
- →
The longer rawon simmers, the deeper and more complex the flavour becomes.
- →
Taste and adjust salt at the very end — flavors concentrate as liquids reduce, and a final pinch of flaky salt sharpens the whole dish.
- →
Mise en place pays for itself: chop, measure and pre-mix everything before the heat goes on, especially for any step that moves fast.
- →
Read the recipe through once before starting — knowing what's coming prevents the small timing mistakes that compound into bigger ones.
Variations
- •
Use black garlic paste if keluak is unavailable
- •
Add fried tofu on the side
- •
Serve with salted egg
- •
Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 3 days. The flavour deepens overnight.
History & Origin
Rawon has been documented in Javanese texts since the 9th century, making it one of the oldest recorded dishes in Indonesian culinary history. It is considered the national dish of East Java and is served at royal and ceremonial occasions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are keluak nuts?
A distinctive Indonesian ingredient from pangium edule seeds, giving rawon its signature black colour and earthy flavour.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes — most of the components can be prepared up to a day in advance and refrigerated separately. Reheat gently and assemble just before serving so textures stay distinct.
What can I substitute if I don't have all the ingredients?
Stay close to the role each ingredient plays: swap aromatics for similar ones (shallot for onion, lime for lemon), and keep the fat-acid-salt balance intact. Spice blends can usually be approximated with what's in the cupboard.
How do I know it's authentic?
Authenticity sits on a spectrum — what matters more is honoring the technique and balance of flavors. If the dish tastes harmonious and respects how cooks in its home region would build it, you're on solid ground.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · 6 servings total
Time Summary
Have Questions?
Ask our AI cooking assistant anything about this recipe — substitutions, techniques, scaling.
Chat with AI Chef →More Indonesian Recipes
You Might Also Like
Similar dishes from other cuisines around the world.
Browse by Ingredient
More recipes built around the same core ingredients.
Free Kitchen Tools
Calculators and converters that pair with this page — no signup needed.
Put This Into a Plan
Schedule it, shop for it, and track what you already have.
Read Next
Longer reads that go deeper on the ideas behind this dish.
Community
Join the conversation
Sign in to leave a comment and save your favourite recipes