Dear Kindness,

Sweet, a little sticky like honey, umami but fresh at the same time, aromatic, spicy and citrusy with the most tender short ribs meat-is what I’m about to share with you. The infamous Iga Bakar with Sambal Matah Tomat.

READ MORE OR JUMP INTO THE RECIPE HERE

I love working with tough meat such as short ribs because they have unbelievable flavours when they are prepared properly. So it is my mission to introduce you to this Indonesian recipe called Iga Bakar as I partner with Ontario Beef to inspire you to cook delicious beef dishes using local Ontario Beef.

Disclosure: I have participated in a paid partnership with Ontario Beef. Opinions in this post are my own.

Ontario beef farmers with their continued innovations in feed, cattle management and sustainable farming practices -strive to nurture the grassland to reduce the carbon footprint of beef.

Continue on Iga Bakar, and don’t miss out on a seriously delicious meal! Read on why you should make it.

Unlike the BBQ Ribs that we know in America where the meat is doused in vinegary tomato sauce at the last step of the cooking, Iga Bakar (Indo-style BBQ Ribs) are flavoured to the bones by first cooking them with aromatics and herbs. The slow-cooking / high pressure ( choose your way) tenderizes the meat and gives aromatics such as galangal, lemongrass, ginger, kefir lime leaves, etc opportunity to build layers of complex flavours. Once the meat is cooked, the flavour layering is continued by coating the ribs in Sweet Soya Sauce, then charred on an open flame grill. These short ribs are meant to be enjoyed with sambal, other side dishes and steamed rice.

As if the meat is not flavourful enough, in true Indonesian fashion, this meal is incomplete without bold, full-of-flavour sambal. This sambal is layered with fresh tasty aromatics, which truly enhance the spices used in Iga Bakar.

To make it more convenient, I have made this recipe to be oven friendly, so you can enjoy this dish all year round, but no one is going to say no to a charcoal grill if you want to!

I’m so excited for you to try this recipe!

Enjoy!

Xx,

M