Kerala beef curry is a wonderfully flavorful and fragrant Indian beef dish that is cooked in coconut oil with the addition of curry leaves, spices, and a handful of other ingredients.
As the name implies, this popular dish originated in Kerala, which is along the southwestern coast of India. This delicious entrée is simple and easy to make, and can even be whipped together in a pressure cooker. Ready to learn how? Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
- How to Prepare Beef Curry in Kerala Style (Instant Pot)
- How to Make Kerala Style Beef Curry (Slow Cooker)
- FAQ
- Kerala Beef Curry Calories
- Kerala Beef Curry with Coconut Milk
- Kerala Beef Curry For Rice
- How to Make Beef Curry Kerala Style? It’s Simple!
How to Prepare Beef Curry in Kerala Style (Instant Pot)
Preparing Kerala beef curry isn’t difficult and the flavor pay-off is well worth the effort. In this recipe, you’ll discover how to prepare Kerala beef curry in an Instant Pot, though it may be made other ways as well.
The following are ways to make beef curry Kerala style in an Instant Pot.
Ingredients:
- 2 lb beef cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 3 diced tomatoes
- 1 can of green chilis (4.5 oz)
- 8 cloves of minced garlic
- 1-inch piece of minced ginger
- A sprinkling of curry leaves
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ tsp of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala or curry powder
- 1 cup water
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Kerala Style Beef Curry:
- Turn on your Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) and sauté your onions in a bit of salt for about 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add tomatoes and green chili. Sauté until the tomatoes become soft and juicy. Then add in garlic, ginger, and curry leaves and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add in the garlic cloves, minced ginger, and curry leaves. Stir for about 2 minutes.
- Add your beef and all the seasonings including your chili powder coriander, black pepper, onion powder, and your garam masala (or curry powder) along with the water.
- Close your Instant Pot and cook until the beef is cooked through, usually about 25 minutes. Allow the pressure in your Instant Pot to release completely before opening it.
- Serve the Kerala beef curry with your choice of rice!
How to Make Kerala Style Beef Curry (Slow Cooker)
Don’t have a pressure cooker on hand? A slow cooker works, too!
Try this slow cooker recipe for Kerala beef to make savory and mouth-watering Kerala beef curry the slow cooker way.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef-1 inch bite-sized pieces
- 2 medium red onions, finely sliced
- 1 can 14 oz diced tomatoes
- ½ tsp of garlic powder
- 3 green chilies, chopped
- 2 sprigs of curry leaves
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
Spice Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons powdered garlic
- 2 tablespoons ground coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala (or sub curry powder)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 4 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Kerala Beef Curry Instructions
- Place oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Add your onions and cook until fragrant and translucent.
- Add your diced tomatoes (drained) and stir for about one minute or until soft.
- Add your ginger, garlic, coriander, garam masala (or curry powder), black pepper, chili powder, salt, and turmeric to the mix. Continue stirring for about one minute.
- Add your canned green chilis before transferring them to a slow cooker.
- Move your mixture to a slow cooker, along with bite-sized beef, curry leaves, and water.
- Cook on low in your slow cooker for about 8 hours. Remove the curry leaf stems afterward.
- To thicken this dish, add a bit of corn flour (about 1 tablespoon) with 2 tablespoons of tap water in a small bowl. Pour this slurry into your slow cooker and stir until it thickens. To make it even thicker, repeat this process again.
- Also, remember that curry powder makes a great substitute for garam masala. So, if you don’t have any garam masala on hand, you can use curry powder in your Kerala beef dish for similar results. If you’re looking for curry powder substitutes though, we’ve got you covered!
FAQ
Which Beef Cut is Good For Kerala Beef Curry?
The best type of beef we have found to use in Kerala beef curry tends to be chuck steak, skirt steak, shin, or brisket. Chuck steak, in particular, is a good choice because it is easily accessible, lean, has a low amount of external fat, and has good marbling for plenty of flavors. The other cuts of meat may be used as well, depending on your budget and what is available in your area.
Kerala Beef Curry Calories
Kerala beef is estimated to have approximately 278 calories in it per serving.
However, the actual calculation will depend on what you used to make it and how much of it you consume.
All in all, this is a lower calorie dish that offers plenty of healthy vegetables, lean beef, and aromatic spices to be enjoyed even by those on stricter diets.
Need it to be low-carb? Leave off the rice and enjoy this delicious Indian beef entrée ala carte!
Kerala Beef Curry with Coconut Milk
Though coconut milk isn’t always added to Kerala beef curry, it proves to be a wonderful addition to the dish that adds an extra layer of coconut flavor that is beyond remarkable. Therefore, we recommend trying out Kerala beef curry with coconut milk, especially if you enjoy coconut flavors!
Kerala Beef Curry For Rice
Virtually any rice could be served alongside Kerala beef curry.
However, we recommend a warm bowl of Basmati for the perfect pairing.
Basmati rice is a long-grain rice known for its light but firm texture and aromatic properties. You could also pair your Kerala beef curry with Jasmine rice which is another lovely long-grain rice that tends to be a bit stickier but more fluffy.
If you want to learn about basmati rice vs jasmine rice, read more on our blog!
How to Make Beef Curry Kerala Style? It’s Simple!
Kerala beef curry originated in Kerala, India, and is now enjoyed in regions all over the world. Flavored with onions, curry leaves, and spicy aromatics, this tasty Indian dish cannot be beaten.
We hope this has helped you discover yet another exotic and flavorful dish you can put on the table this evening…Enjoy!
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