Soto Makassar
Clear chicken soup from Makassar with candlenut broth
The recipe
Soto Makassar is the signature soup of South Sulawesi — a clear, fragrant broth with chicken (or beef), rice *ketupat*, bean sprouts, hard-boiled egg, fried shallots, and a heavy garnish of celery, green onion, and a unique *bawang goreng* (fried shallot) topping. The defining difference from other Indonesian sotos: it's spiced with candlenuts, lemongrass, and galangal, and the sambal is a fiery *sambal Makassar* of red chilies, shrimp paste, and tamarind. The soup is light but the sambal is nuclear — diners add it to taste. Soto Makassar is the centerpiece of Makassar's morning food culture.
Ingredients
Method
💡 Tips from the kitchen
- ·The candlenuts are non-negotiable — they give the broth its signature body.
- ·Sambal Makassar is very hot. Start with a small spoonful and add more.
- ·Use ketupat (compressed rice cake in woven palm leaf), not lontong — the texture is different.
The story
Did you know?
🇮🇩 Indonesia has 17,000+ islands — only 6,000 are inhabited.
Cook it yourself
Soto Makassar is one of Indonesia's heritage dishes. Want to try the recipe at home?
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