CURRIED BEEF WITH COCONUT (PALEO)

Spicy Beef Stir fry with coconut (Kerala Style Beef )

Kerala style beef stir fryTo (eat) Beef or not (eat) Beef? A lot of us folks I am sure ponder about this question. Growing up beef was not cooked in our home. But we did eat some very delicious beef curry on a routine basis at our close family friends’ home. They were Kerala Christians and hence Beef was very common in their meals. Every year we would celebrate Christmas in their home and spicy beef stir fry was one of the specialties served. Chinnama aunty and John uncle would create a slew of dishes – beef, pork, chicken and fish with an unique blend of spices for each of the different meats. This was one treat that we kids waited for all year!  Plus when the six of us (three girls and three boys!) got together, time just flew by -there was a lot of chatting, good natured teasing (with some pillow fighting involved), movies, board games and lots and lots of jokes! Afternoon lunch session easily extended into evening tea and to dinner with the left overs.  Oh boy those were the days! I am so grateful to God that our families are still in touch and our respective spouses are all in tune too so that whenever we visit India now we still try to replicate those times. That’s what life is all about, isn’t it?

OK so back to the beef – is it healthy or not? Based on my research (I have been reading a lot of articles and books in the past year trying to reverse my rheumatoid arthritis by eating a healthy diet), it seems that grass-fed beef does not increase cholesterol and on the contrary it has beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that help to control inflammation. 100% grass-fed beef comes from cows who have grazed in pasture year-round rather than being fed a processed diet for much of their life. Grass feeding improves the quality of beef, and makes the beef richer in omega-3 fats, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and CLA (a beneficial fatty acid named conjugated linoleic acid1.

So now that I am on a Paleo diet, we regularly cook beef – of course we only get grass fed beef – Our local BJs club have started stocking grass fed beef.  This recipe is my attempt to replicate chinamma aunty’s tasty beef curry.

Beef OlathiyathuPressure cooking the meat makes it really tender and moist.  If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you could use a slow cooker, an instant pot or a regular cooking pot and cook the meat beforehand.Thinly sliced coconut slices and coconut oil add to the flavor of this dish.  In case you are getting intimidated wondering where you are going to get fresh coconut and then cut it open to get the slices, relax… you can get frozen coconut slices at any Indian grocers 🙂 This recipe does taste pretty close to hers although next time I visit india I will try to get the exact recipe from her. Aunty is the epitome of kindness!  She has been sending me quotes from the Bible regularly and has been praying for my health ever since she learnt about my RA. I am so grateful to her and to God for all such kind souls like her who give me courage and positivity everyday to deal with this disease.

Ending with a recent Bible quote that I received from her which I am in love with:

” Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people” Colossians 3:23 CEB

 

CURRIED BEEF WITH COCONUT (PALEO)

 

Spicy Beef Stir fry with coconut (Kerala Style Beef )
Author: 
Recipe type: Main Course
Cuisine: Kerala
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Beef cooked in Indian spices and sautéed in coconut oil with curry leaves and coconut pieces; Makes a great Paleo meal served with salad on the side
RecipeIngredients
Pressure cooking the meat:*(see note below for using Instant Pot and or regular pot)
  • 2 lbs Beef, Chuck roast (about 1 kg), cut into small bite size pieces
  • 1 tbsp, thinly sliced ginger
  • 6-8 whole black peppercorns
  • 4-6 whole cloves
  • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • ½ cup thinly sliced fresh coconut pieces (or frozen coconut pieces)
  • ½ cup water
For sautéing:
  • 2 tbsp organic extra virgin coconut oil
  • 1½ large onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 green chillies, slit lengthwise
  • 6-8 garlic cloves, chopped finely
  • 6-8 fresh curry leaves
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • 2 tsp freshly ground fennel powder
  • 1 tbsp garam masala powder
RecipeInstructions
  1. Wash the beef pieces and add them into a pressure cooker. Add all the ingredients under 'Pressure cooking the meat' to the pressure cooker, stir well to mix all the spices well and then close the cooker and cook on medium heat for 4-5 whistles. Turn heat off and keep aside to cool.
  2. In a large kadai (wok style pan), heat the coconut oil. Add the sliced onions to the oil. Stir for 2 minutes and then add the chopped garlic, green chillies and the curry leaves. Continue sautéing for another 4-5 minutes till the onions turn crispy. Add the salt and coriander powder and again stir for 1 more minute. Now open the cooker and add the cooked beef along with the stock into this pan. Add the fennel powder and the garam masala powder and continue to cook on low to medium heat for a 10-15 minutes until most of the water(stock) is evaporated and you get a thickish gravy with the oil separating out. Turn heat off and transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot as an appetizer or serve with rice and dal.
Notes
If you don't have a pressure cooker you can use an instant pot or a regular cooking pot. For regular cooking, you will need to cook for about 30 minutes on slow heat until the meat is tender. For Instant Pot, pressure cook for 10 mins and let steam release naturally.

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15 Comments

  1. Hi Indu,

    I can’t wait to try this recipe! It is my fave dish. Do you know how long 4-5 whistles would be in the instantpot? Thanks

    • Hi Lisa, Actually I recently made this recipe in my instant Pot. I pressure cooked for 15 mins just to be safe but even 10 mins might work I think. Pressure cook for 10 mins. And then let steam release naturally. Hope that helps! I hope you like this recipe! Let me know! – Best, Indu

  2. Indu I am very sorry for having not responded to you on the mail. What happened I have written some lines for you and was to finish. Suddenly I had to leave my place and go to Bangalore and I am still here. I shall be in my town next week, shall send you the mail.
    By way how are you. How has the naturopathy worked.
    Meanwhile you please take as much breath. Inhale and exhale. Start loving your body and put out the breath with the feeling that everything unwanted is going out from your body.
    Shiva

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