Beef rendang with herby rice

Name: Beef rendang with herby rice
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Cuisine: Asian, Indian
Ingredients: 1 onion, roughly chopped; 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger; 1 tbsp chopped galangal (or another tbsp of the above); 1 tbsp chopped garlic; 1 lemongrass stalk, tough outer layer removed and roughly chopped; 1 tsp turmeric; 6 long red dried chillies, soaked in water and roughly chopped; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 1 cinnamon stick; 6 cardamom pods; 650g/1lb 7oz braising steak, cut into 2cm/1inch cubes; 4 makrut lime leaves; zest of a lime; 400ml/14fl oz coconut milk; 1 tbsp of tamarind paste or juice of a lime; 50g/2oz desiccated coconut flakes; coriander sprigs to garnish; 1 tbsp sunflower oil; 4 cardamom pods; 250g/9oz basmati rice; 600ml/1pint 1½fl oz water; 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander; sea salt; deep-fried shallots; 1 deep-fried red chilli