Indonesian-Style Beef with Toasted Coconut

Indonesian serundeng is a mix of toasted grated coconut cooked with spices, aromatics and palm sugar to a thick, dryish paste. Though commonly used as a condiment or garnish, it also is a defining element in serundeng daging, a dish in which meat, typically beef, is simmered with aromatics before the coconut is stirred in. This stir-fry is our simplified take on serundeng daging. We subbed out hard-to-source ingredients such as fresh coconut, galangal and makrut lime, but even so, we think the flavors here are tantalizing and deliciously complex. And with the help of a blender to make the flavor base, this stir-fry comes together easily and speedily.