Beef Varattiyathu

Wishing all my readers a merry Christmas!!

Beef Varattiyathu Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4 )

1. Beef – 600 gm, cut into cubes

2. Ginger – 1.5 tbsp crushed

Garlic – 1.5  tbsp crushed

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

Kashmiri chilli powder – 1 tbsp

Coriander powder – 1 tbsp

Salt – As required

Coconut oil – 1 tsp

3. Coconut oil – 3 – 5 tbsp or as required

4. Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp

Onion – 1 large, thinly sliced (makes about 1 cup)

Shallots – 1/2 cup, sliced

Curry leaves – 1 – 2 sprigs

Thenga kothu / coconut tidbits – 1/3 cup

5. Tomato – 1 small, chopped

Green chilies – 2, diagonally sliced

6. Whole black pepper corns, crushed – 1 – 2 tbsp or as needed to taste

Garam masala powder – 1 – 1.5 tsp

7. Salt – To taste

Method

1. Marinate the beef pieces with all the ingredients numbered 2 for at least 30 minutes.

2. Pressure cook the beef pieces adding 2 tbsp water for 4 – 5 whistles or until completely cooked. Open the cooker after pressure releases or after 15 minutes.

3. Heat coconut oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 tsp fennel seeds and stir for a few seconds till fragrant. Add sliced onion, shallots, little salt, curry leaves and thenga kothu/coconut tidbits. Cook until onion turns lightly browned. Add chopped tomato and green chilies. Cook for 2 minutes. Add freshly crushed pepper and garam masala powder. Add cooked beef pieces along with the gravy. Cook on medium-high flame until moisture is mostly evaporated. Taste-check for salt. Bring down the flame to medium-low and cook for 20 – 25 minutes until beef pieces are browned and roasted well. Add more coconut oil in between, if required. Switch off the flame. Serve with rice / porotta / appam etc.