My Brother Cooks

Category: Intermediate

A little skill required but you’ll always get there

  • Sop Buntut – Indonesian Oxtail Soup

    Sop Buntut – Indonesian Oxtail Soup

    This is a slow-cooked Indonesian soup that will taste very different in Indonesia depending on which area of the country you have it.

    It’s also delicious and one of my brother’s favorites, both to eat and cook.

    He tends to prefer to quickly grill the oxtail before adding it to the broth, which in Indonesia would be Sop Buntut Bakar. It is also perfectly acceptable to just slow cook it in the broth.

    They give slightly different textures and flavors, so you can experiment.

    Be ready to substitute the oxtail for osso bucco or whatever cut of meat is available and good value. Oxtail is not very common outside Asia. If you do, osso bucco will tend to taste slightly meatier and less fatty, but delicious also.

  • Indonesian Rendang

    Indonesian Rendang

    I’ve lived in Asia for many years, and love a good Rendang. You can get them in Australia too, but my brother often enjoys making his own and has spent a lot time tweaking his.

    His base recipe is here.

    Now I’ve never eaten his. Just seen the photos. My favourites in Jakarta are:

    1. Sari Indah
    2. Pagi Sore
    3. Sederhana

    Pro tip – go to the trouble of finding white pepper. It makes a difference!

    Service with rice.

  • Air Fryer KFC

    Air Fryer KFC

    Everyone in my house seems to love KFC but it’s not especially healthy for you.

    The air fryer version isn’t super healthy, but it’s a bit better and keeps the same flavours.

    The base recipe is from Babish although in this version he fries it conventionally. This alternative from Big Man’s World also looks good, but I don’t think my brother has tried it before, but it has a good description of the air frying part.

    He’s made this many times, and from our conversations, it seems like this recipe, more than others he’s shared, requires practice. Right amount of breading for the chicken and your air fryer.

    He often added supermarket sides like premixed slaw as a way of reducing cost and making it easier.

    You take a shot at the Colonel … you better not miss

    Give it a try. Even if it’s not perfect the first couple of times, it’ll still be delicious with all these spices.

  • Chile Colorado

    Chile Colorado

    Chile Colorado is a Mexican-style beef stew I’d never even heard of before my brother told me about it. These are the long big batch cooks that my brother excels at. No need for fancy expensive cuts of meat, time and effort with the spices will get all the flavor for you.

    His base recipe is from Lemon Blossoms.

    From there is slow working the peppers into a marinade, which in turn becomes a sauce.

    Results? Spectacular.

    Yes, it has some heat, but you don’t have to go crazy.

    He tends to smash it straight into tacos with friends while watching the UFC.

    Tip add a can of Mexican Beans last 15 minutes. More flavour. Some Fibre.

    Screenshot
  • Slow Cooked Lamb Leg

    Slow Cooked Lamb Leg

    My brother loves cooking lamb.

    He’s go to is usually a lamb shoulder, very slow cooked.

    This is one of his favourite recipes as a starting point. https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-roasted-rosemary-garlic-lamb-shoulder/

    This was a lamb leg cooked as a family lunch for my mum and dad over Easter.

    Normally you might attack a lamb leg with higher heat for shorter time, but he’s used the same technique. Very slow cooked in braising liquid.

    Yes the Yorkies were burnt slightly.

    The left overs got put to use in a Roast Lamb Yiros (aka Souvlaki) is another different post.

  • Ribeye on the Bone

    Ribeye on the Bone

    My brother doesn’t get to cook large steaks too often. Overkill for his needs.

    I got to contribute some suggestions during the cook.

    Basically crazy hot pan or grill for a couple of minutes each side for colour, then slow in the oven until its how you like your steak.