Beef Curry

A common traditional beef curry in Bangladesh, this is a spicy and mouth watering dish.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds Boneless Beef cubed

1 medium Red Onion sliced finely
2 small Potatoes diced into 2 inches cubes (optional)
2 medium Tomatoes chopped finely

1.5 tsp Garlic Paste
1.5 tsp Ginger Paste

2 whole Cloves
2 pods Cardamom
1 inch piece Cinnamon stick
1-2 Bay Leaves

1 tsp Red Chilli Powder (Use less for mild and more for hot)
½ tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Salt or to taste

3 tbsp Vegetable/Cooking Oil
3 cups Hot Water

Preparation:

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Add the dry whole spices until fragrant. Add sliced onions and caramelize. Pour 1/4cups of boiling water. Add ginger and garlic paste, and red chilli, turmeric, cumin, coriander powder, and salt. Saute all the spices for a few minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until the mixture is thick.

Add beef to the pan and stir until evenly coated with the spice mixture. Lower the heat and cover the pan with a tight lid. After 5 minutes, stir again and cover the lid. When the water has dried and the oil separates, add half boiled potatoes (optional) and rest of the hot water. Cook until beef is tender. Add more water if required (never add cold water to the meat because they lose their tenderness). If there is excess water, increase the heat until oil separates from the meat.

Serve hot with Khichdi, plain Steamed Rice, or Naan and Paratha.

Quick Khichdi Recipe

This is the fastest and easiest recipe for delicious Khichdi. It requires very little ingredients, just the regular spices found in almost any Indian kitchen. It is effortless to prepare too!

Serves: 3

Ingredients:

1 cup basmati rice
1/4 cup masoor dal (red lintils)
1 tsp garam masala powder (Indian spice blend)
1 tsp salt or to taste
A small pinch of turmeric powder
2 tablespoon vegetable/cooking oil
2 cups hot water
1 medium onion evenly sliced and fried till golden yellow for garnishing.

Preparation:

Combine the rice and dal together and wash till the water clears. Drain water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a medium pan. Add garam masala powder, turmeric and salt. Make sure the spices don’t burn by reducing the heat a little. Add the prewashed rice and dal mixture to the pan and fry for about 6-7 minutes.

Turn off the heat and pour the mixture on to a microwave safe bowl. Add 2 cups of hot water and cover it. Microwave the dish on high heat for 8 mins. Then reduce the power to 30 % and microwave for an additional 5 mins.

Let it stand for at least 5 mins or till you are ready to serve. Garnish with golden-fried onions and serve hot with beef, mutton or chicken curry, or fried fish.