Beef Piralan
Ingredients (Serves 5 – 6)
1. Beef – 3/4 kg, cubed
2. Coconut oil – 2 – 3 tbsp
Ginger – 1 – 1.5 tbsp, crushed
Garlic – 6 – 8, chopped or crushed
Onion – 2 cups, thinly sliced
Shallots – 15, sliced
Dried red chilies – 2
Thenga kothu / coconut tidbits – 1/2 cup
Curry leaves – 1 sprig
3. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Chilly powder – 2 tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder – 1 tsp
Pepper powder – 1/4 tsp
4. Tomato – 2 small, chopped
5. Garam masala powder – 1 + 1/2 tsp
6. Hot water – 1/2 cup
7. Coconut oil – 1 – 2 tsp
Grated coconut –3/4 – 1 cup
8. Salt – To taste
Method
1. Heat 1 – 2 tsp coconut oil over medium heat and add grated coconut. Fry until it tiurns browned. Set aside to cool. Grind to a very paste adding 1 – 2 tsp oil / water.
2. Heat 2 – 3 tbsp coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add all the ingredients numbered 2 and little salt. Saute for 10 – 15 minutes until golden brown. Add spice powders numbered 3.
Cook over low heat until their raw smell completely disappears. Add chopped tomatoes and continue to saute until oil separates. Add 1 tsp garam masala powder and mix well. Taste-check for salt. Add beef pieces and mix well. Cook for a few minutes. Add 1/2 cup hot water and cook covered for 45 minutes or so until beef pieces are completely done (you can transfer it to a pressure cooker and cook for 3 – 4 whistles). Open the cooker after 10 – 15 minutes. Add ground coconut paste. Mix well and cook for 4 – 6 minutes until the beef pieces are well-coated with the masala. Switch off. Serve with appam / idiyappam / chapathis.
