Javanese Beef Steak (Solo Salad)

Javanese Beef Steak or Solo Salad is a typical Solo food inherited from the Dutch colonial era. Solo Salad has a sweet, sour and savory taste. This food has a distinctive light spice aroma.

The brownish color that dominates this meat-based dish comes from the use of soy sauce. This food, which is often called Javanese beefsteak, was previously only enjoyed by the nobility, but now this food is easily found in a number of restaurants.

Solo Salad is a combination of steak and salad.

The name strait is taken from the word slachtje which means salad. The word slachtje also means the result of slaughtering meat which is made into small pieces. At that time, the people of Surakarta or Solo found it difficult to say the word slachtje, so they often said it with the word Selat.

The beginning of the Salad Solo began with the construction of Fort Vastenburg which was located in front of the gate of the Surakarta palace. This place often took place between the Dutch and the palace. At every meeting food is always provided, but the food does not suit Dutch tastes, which want food made primarily from meat.

Meanwhile, the king was used to eating vegetables and was not used to eating large portions of half-cooked meat. As a result, the meat that should have been cooked half-cooked was turned into minced meat mixed with sausage, eggs and breadcrumbs. 

These ingredients are mixed then formed into a lontong shape and wrapped in banana leaves. Then, the mixed meat is steamed until cooked. The cooked meat is cooled, then the meat is sliced ​​thickly and fried using a little margarine. 

Contents of the Solo Salad

The palace then modified the processed meat dish with a new menu combined with a number of ingredients, such as potatoes, green beans, carrots, eggs, lettuce, soy sauce and mayonnaise sauce.

On top of lettuce leaves, mustard sauce is usually added and some people add cucumber slices. Another characteristic of the Solo Salad is the presence of sliced ​​boiled eggs. This combination makes the Solo Salad colorful and appetizing. The difference between Selat Solo and European steak is that European steak is usually served hot, while Solo Salad is served cold.

At home I have galantin (minced meat mixed with sausage, eggs and breadcrumbs), so I also have the desire to make Solo Salad at home.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1 teaspoon beef stock

1 tablespoon margarine

4 tablespoons of sweet soy sauce

3 boiled chicken eggs,

1 liter of water

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/4 nutmeg, leave whole

150 grams ripe red tomatoes, cut into small pieces

Ground spices :

6 red onions

2 cloves of garlic

Complementary:

Boiled carrots and green beans

Boiled potato,

Tomato

How to make :

Heat margarine, saute ground spices until fragrant and cooked

Add soy sauce and boiled eggs, tomatoes and water

Add nutmeg and other spices

Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the spices are absorbed and the sauce reduces

Remove the meat, separate it from the sauce. Strain the soup if you want it clearer.

Arrange the meat, complementary ingredients on a plate, pour over the meat stew sauce