Cheese-Stuffed Bakso Bakar Skewers

Method

1. Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 20 min so they do not burn on the grill. Meanwhile, put the cold beef, tapioca, garlic, salt, white pepper, sugar and baking powder in a food processor and process for 3 min, adding the ice water a little at a time, until smooth and sticky.

   Add in this stepBamboo skewers (20 cm) 4Lean minced beef, very cold 200 gTapioca starch (or potato starch) 25 gGarlic cloves, finely grated 2Salt ¾ tspGround white pepper ½ tspSugar ½ tspBaking powder ¼ tspIce water 60 ml

2. Cut the mozzarella into 1 cm cubes (about 4 per serving). With lightly oiled hands, flatten about 1½ tablespoons of paste in your palm, put a cube of cheese in the middle, wrap the paste around it and pinch it closed with no gaps, then roll into a 4 cm ball. Any gap and the cheese leaks out during poaching.

   Add in this stepLow-moisture mozzarella block, in 1 cm cubes 60 g

3. Bring a 20 cm pot of water to the boil, then lower to medium-low heat so only small bubbles rise from the bottom. Add the balls and cook for 8 min in total, letting them carry on a little after they float. Lift them out and pat dry with kitchen paper. Keep the water gentle: a rolling boil bursts the balls.

   medium-low heat

4. In a small bowl, mix the kecap manis, sambal and lime juice into a glaze. Taste and add more sambal if you like it hotter.

   Add in this stepKecap manis (sweet soy sauce) 3 tbspSambal oelek (chilli paste) 2 tspLime (juice) ½

5. Thread 2 balls onto each skewer and brush them lightly with oil. Heat a 24 cm griddle or frying pan on medium-high heat, add the skewers and cook for 5 min, turning every minute. Brush with the glaze 2 or 3 times during the last 2 minutes, until sticky with charred spots. The glaze is sugary and burns fast, so do not brush it on too early.

   Add in this stepVegetable oil 2 tsp

   medium-high heat

6. Plate the skewers, scatter with sesame seeds, spring onion and fried shallots and serve the remaining glaze on the side. The cheese inside is very hot, so wait 1 to 2 minutes before biting in.

   Add in this stepToasted sesame seeds 1 tspSpring onion, sliced 1Crispy fried shallots 2 tbsp