Sop Buntot (Indonesian Oxtail) Recipe – Instant Pot Version

My boyfriend in high school was Indonesian and his mom often made an oxtail dish for us, which I loved. I have always wanted to make it, but never have until one of my sorority sisters gave me her mom’s recipe recently. I will definitely make this again and suggest you give it a try if you like oxtail!

Ingredients

• 2 shallots, peeled and halved
• 1 large onion, quartered, divided
• 1 (2 inch) piece ginger, peeled
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 3 T vegetable oil
• 4 lb oxtail
• 1 large can peeled whole tomatoes
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 whole cloves (optional)
• 1 bag of baby carrots or 2 large carrots
• 3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• water to cover
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• sliced hotdog (optional topping)
• 1 (2.8 ounce) can French-fried onions (optional topping)
• 2 tomatoes cut into wedges (optional topping)
• Cilantro leaves (optional topping)

Directions

1. Combine shallots, 2 onion quarters, ginger, and garlic in a food processor; pulse until finely minced.
2. Heat oil in instant pot in saute mode.
3. Cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Add shallot paste and fry until fragrant and slightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Add frozen oxtails.
6. Add can of tomatoes, remaining 2 onion quarters, potatoes, carrots, and celery into the pot.
7. Pour in enough water to 3/4 full.
8. Stir salt, black pepper, sugar and fish sauce.
9. Manual high pressure for 60 minutes, then quick release.  If size of oxtail pieces are very big, more time may be needed.
10. Ladle soup into large serving bowls and top with any or all of the optional toppings: tomato wedges, French-fried onions and/or cilantro leaves.

Notes

• My sorority sister’s mom adds hot dogs in as well. I didn’t this time simply because I didn’t have any.
• If using fresh oxtail, replace step 5 with the following: Add oxtails and stir until completely covered with spices and paste and browned, about 5 minutes.