Bebek Betutu Suwir Manis Asam Pedas
This dish features tender, shredded duck, slow-cooked and infused with a symphony of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. It's a complex and aromatic Balinese specialty, perfect for a celebratory dinner.
Prep Time
480 min
Difficulty
Hard
Servings
6
Calories
750 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the duck: Clean the duck thoroughly and pat it dry. Make deep slashes in the thickest parts of the duck meat to allow flavors to penetrate.
~15 min - 2
Prepare the spice paste (Bumbu): Bruise the lemongrass stalks. Peel and roughly chop galangal, ginger, turmeric, shallots, and garlic. Remove seeds from chilies.
~10 min - 3
Grind the spices: In a mortar and pestle or food processor, grind coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and white peppercorns until fragrant. Then, add the bruised lemongrass, chopped galangal, ginger, turmeric, shallots, garlic, chilies, and candlenuts. Grind into a fine paste. Add salt and continue grinding.
~20 min - 4
Sear the duck: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sear the duck on all sides until golden brown. Remove duck from the pot and set aside.
~10 min - 5
Sauté the spice paste: In the same pot, reduce heat to medium. Add the prepared spice paste and sauté until fragrant and the oil separates, about 8-10 minutes.
~10 min - 6
Simmer the duck: Return the duck to the pot. Add bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves, and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 3-4 hours, or until the duck is very tender and the meat easily pulls away from the bone.
~240 min - 7
Shred the duck: Once tender, carefully remove the duck from the pot. Let it cool slightly, then shred the meat using two forks or your hands, discarding bones and skin. Reserve the cooking liquid.
~15 min - 8
Create the sauce: In a clean pan, combine the shredded duck meat, reserved cooking liquid (about 1 cup, or more if needed), palm sugar, tamarind paste, lime juice, and sweet soy sauce. Stir well to combine.
~5 min - 9
Reduce and thicken: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened and coats the shredded duck, about 15-20 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste with more salt, sugar, tamarind, or lime juice if necessary.
~20 min - 10
Serve: Transfer the Bebek Betutu Suwir Manis Asam Pedas to a serving bowl. Garnish with fresh chilies or herbs if desired.
Tips
- For an even more authentic flavor, consider wrapping the duck in banana leaves before slow-cooking. This will add a subtle aroma and moisture.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated gently on the stovetop. The flavors often meld and deepen overnight.
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