Traditional Beef Stew - Kerala

It was John’s sister’s marriage day and our full band of friends camped at his home on the wedding eve itself. For dinner, we had too many delicious varieties of South Kerala Christians’ specials that we couldn’t cover all the items completely. Still I remember the amazed look on her dad’s face seeing our in-take capacity. The taste of the beef stew I’d tasted there still tickles my taste buds even after two years. I was behind his aunty to get the recipe of this luscious beef curry. Here I’m sharing it for you...

Traditional Beef Stew

• Beef (with bone) – 1 kg
• Potato (peeled and cut into medium size) – 2-3 medium sized
• Green chilli (sliced) – 20-25 no.
• Onion (chopped) – 1 small sized
• Ginger - 1 small piece
• Coriander/mint/curry leaves – 1 handful
• Grated coconut – 2
• Curd – 3 Tb spoon
• Salt to taste
• Tomato – 2

1.       Put the grated coconut into a mixer jar, pour water just enough to dip the coconut and mix well. Squeeze this mixture to take thick coconut milk. The squeezed coconut milk should again be put in the mixer with more water and squeezed to take thin coconut milk. Keep both thick and thin milk separately in bowls.

2.       Put washed and cut beef into a pressure cooker. Add potato, green chilli, minced ginger, coriander, mint and curry leaves cut into small pieces, curd and salt. Mix these ingredients well with hand and pour two cups of water. Close the cooker and pressure cook up to 3-4 whistles depending upon the nature of beef.

3.       Open the pressure cooker and put the cut tomato into it and boil for 3 minutes. Add the thin coconut milk into this and boil for 5 minutes.

4.       Pour the thick coconut milk and mix. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame.

Note:  depending on the piquancy of the green chillies, the count can be increased or decreased. And if needed, can be adjusted with a little amount of ground pepper also.

Thus the creamy and yummy beef stew is ready. It’s an enticing combination with ghee rice or Kerala pathiri, puttu (rice funnel cake) or appam. Have a try and let me know your comments.

Posted in: Beef,Indian,Kerala,Kitchen,Traditional