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    • Beef Curry (Thattukada Style)

    by Maria on September 2, 2008

    Beef Curry (Thattukada Style)

    The word “thattukada” brings me a lot of good memories. Am sure that every Malayalee has tried this local fast food version at least once. The thattukada is a road side eatery / fast food outlet / hawker food. If you’ve been to Kerala, you can’t help but notice these thattukadas where porottas are made and I should say that sight itself is kinda appetizing!

    My brother is a thattukada fan and he is the one who introduced me to this world of fiery n colorful thattu specials. He used to get parcels for me. His thattu favorites were squid curry, fried rice, kappa n meen curry and beef curry.

    He had the habit of checking the dinner menu at home and if he was not happy, he’d immediately take his bike n go n fetch some thattukada specials. I used to wait to see the expression on his face to decide whether I should start having dinner or wait for those fiery thattu specials ;)

    I guess spiciness is the trademark of thattu dishes and this curry is no exception. Please adjust the masala measurements to suite your spice tolerance level.

    Here comes the recipe:

    1. Beef – 1/2 kg, cut into small pieces
      For Masala
    2. Ginger – 1 tbsp
      Garlic – 10 cloves
      Pepper – 1/2 tsp
      Chili powder – 1/2 tbsp
      Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
      Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
      Fennel (perumjeerakam) -1/2 tsp
      Cardamom – 2
      Star anise (thakolam) – 1
      Cinnamon – 1 small piece
      Cloves – 2
    3. Onion – 2, sliced finely
      Ginger – 1 small piece
      Green chili – 2
      Salt
      Curry leaves
    4. Coconut oil

    Grind together number 2 ingredients. Heat the oil in a pan/pressure cooker. Add number 3 ingredients and saute. When the onions become soft add ground masala & fry till the oil starts appearing. Add the beef and 1 cup of water. Cook the beef till it becomes tender and the gravy is thick.

    It tastes great with parotta, roti, puttu.

    Source: Vanitha Magazine

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    About Maria Jose Martin

    MariasMenu is a popular food blog written by Maria Jose with its no nonsense simple, tasty and delicious recipes – all tried and tested by readers, family and friends alike. Read more about Maria and her venture.

    • ligy

      hey will u plaese post a recipe for beef biriyani…??

    • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

      I will def try to post a beef biriyani recipe, if i can find a good one :)

    • lays

      Yummm!!!!! this came out real well…
      My huby loved it….. thanks for posting :)

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        thanks a lot Lays, very happy to know that you guys liked it :) and also thank you for writing to me.

    • susansleeba

      hey maria, Hope u rember me. I tried ur receipe thattukada style beef curry. It came out well. Thanks

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Susan

        Hope you are fine..

        I do remember you :) am very happy that you liked the beef curry and thanks a lot for letting me know that.

    • http://bachelor-ambrosia.blogspot.com/ mathew

      looks awesome..your blog has excellent snaps too…and i like the recipes being mostly kottayam style..i think the recipes here will taste nearest to home..will try this one!!

    • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

      Hi Mathew

      Thank you :)

      Even I love Kottayam/ Central Travancore style recipes :)

      Hope you will like this one.

    • Sibil

      Hey Maria!

      This dish came out great! I just made it yesterday evening and my hubby loved it!Thanks for this wonderful n easy recipe!The pics specially make all your recipes look so tempting!

      Sibil :)

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Sibil

        So I guess your printouts are put to use now :) Very happy to know that you guys liked it. Thanks a lot for your encouraging words dear, please do try other recipes as well when you’ve time.

    • http://myexperiencewithcooking.blogspot.com Pooja

      Hi Maria,

      This looks delicious. I have never had Beef curry before. I would like to give this a try for sure. The other day I was discussing with my husband how to make Beef curry(I have had only roast) and since we didnt have a proper recipe we didnt make it. Now I need to go no further..thanks a lot :)

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Pooja

        Thank you for dropping in.

        Please do try the recipe and let me know. Hope you guys will like it.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Amita George

      Hi Maria, I tried this recipe …and I just cudn’t take my hands off it until I finished the whole beef .I like ur site .The way of presentation ,mouth watering dishes & grey background makes one to try out the recipes…good work ….keep posting more… I ve a suggestion too .Pls include a section of Easy Recipes exclusively for working women like me…

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Amita

        Thanks for trying out the dish. Am very happy to know that you liked it :)

        Thanks for your suggestion, will definitely try to include easy recipes, meanwhile please do try the other recipes and let me know. Would love to hear from you.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • lakshmi menon

      hi the curry was yummy and typical thattukada style , thanx a lot for posting it

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Lakshmi

        Happy to know that you liked it and thanks a lot for letting me know about it :)

        Take care
        Maria

    • Biju

      Mariaa…. I tried it… Adipoli aayi vannu… But ethiri neram cinema kandu erunu.. So ethiri adi pidichu… but kuzhapam undayila… Thanks. for receipe….

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hey Biju

        Thanks a lot :) looks like you are majorly into cooking these days, great going.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Vanessa

      Hi Maria,
      Congrats on your interview. I tried this recipe today came out real good. I used a pressure cooker without the whistle was not sure if the whistle would over cook the beef. if i do put the whistle on , would one whistle do?

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Vanessa

        Thank you dear :)

        I normally put the whistle on while cooking the beef. After the first whistle I reduce the flame to medium and keep till 3-4 whistles come.

        However the number of whistles varies depending on the type of beef. I use the Indian beef available here in the supermarket. Please adjust the number of whistles as per the type of beef you buy.

        Hope this helps…

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Sajin

      Hi Maria….i have tried beef curry before….but this one was the tastiest of all….thanks a lot for ur recipe n the pics r awesome too….will try ur other recipes too…..
      Keep adding recipes…… :)

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Sajin,

        Thanks for dropping in and for giving your feedback :)

        Hope you will like other recipes also…

        Happy cooking…

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Jesna

      hi maria..

      i am a regular visitor of your blog.. tried many recipes of urs and all turned out very well ..

      if possible add some squid recipes too ..

      Jesna

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Jesna,

        Thanks dear and I’m really happy to know that you visit this place regularly.

        Thanks again for trying out the recipes. I havent tried cooking squids yet. Hopefully sometime in the future :)

        Cheers
        Maria

    • prasi

      its really really really tasty

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Prasi,

        Thank you so much :)

        Cheers
        Maria

    • C

      Hey Maria,
      Tried this out today.. it came out really goodd !!!.. My hus loveddd it :)

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hey C,

        how are you?

        Very happy that you liked it. Looks like you are doing major cooking these days, great :)

        Thanks for the comment dear..

        Cheers
        Maria

        • C

          @Maria, Hey im doing fine !! days are crazy as usual :).. Hey pls put more curry recipes..am not into baking yet :D..

          Btw do you have a recipe for dosa?

          Thanks
          C

          • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

            Hi C,

            Will be posting a curry recipe soon :) Meanwhile you can check out the old posts here…

            It’s been ages I made dosa batter at home…since we get readymade idli/dosa batter, I take the easy way out ;)

            Cheers
            Maria

    • Bindu Joseph

      Hi Maria

      I made this beef curry today. Just finished lunch … wow .. absolutely tasty. We had it with your Tomato pulav … simple and fast recipe the pulav was … and yummy too … Just one small problem … OVERATE … ha ha … Thanks for such wonderful recipes …
      Bye ..

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        HI Bindu,

        Thanks dear, I’m glad you had a wonderful lunch :) It’s ok to over eat at times ;)

        Thanks again for the comment, I appreciate it very much.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Vidhu

      Hi Maria

      tried this recipe.. its come out so well.. thank you:) i cudnt grind the masala as am a student and dont have a grinder.. plz do suggest recipes tht does not require a lot of grinding:)

      Thank you
      vidhu

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Vidhu

        Thanks for the comment. Its really nice to know that you liked this recipe :)

        Please check out the following recipes, hope it helps. Some of them use coconut milk for which you can use Maggie or any other brand coconut milk powder. I use that instead of fresh coconut milk.

        Nadan beef curry
        Beef fry
        easy chicken fry
        chicken mappas
        chicken stew
        mutton olathiyathu
        mutton roast

        hope this helps…

        Happy cooking :)

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Mary

      Hi Maria,

      To tell the truth, I have never had beef curry from a thattukada, but I decided to try it out because my hubby simply loves beef !!! I gave it a shot and My husband liked it very much. He said it tasted just like the thattukada beef curry. Thanks to you.

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Mary,

        You are welcome dear :) I’m so happy to know that the curry was enjoyed by your husband. Thanks for the comment.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Z’xAaDiY

      Beef curry is awsom.
      I love beef & kappa

    • liz

      The beef came out well. Great recipe…I had to add some curry powder too as the beef over here is too lean and needs lots of masala. Thanks for the recipe. Do post more. Missed your recipes when you were on your vacation. Glad to know to know that you are back. Hope things in bah become better soon. My in laws are still in bah and they keep me posted.

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi Liz

        Nice to hear that this curry came out well for you & also its good to know that my recipes were missed ;). Thanks for the comment dear..

        Yeah we too hope that situation becomes better, hope your in laws are doing good.

        Take care..

        Cheers
        Maria

    • san s thampi

      hi mariya..first time i made beef curry with your recipe..thnx a lot … it came well… my mom surprised hearing that i made some dishes ….now i`m always searching this site for recipe……i`m a starter in cooking ..thnx again .

      • http://www.mariasmenu.com Maria

        Hi San,

        Thanks a lot for the comment. Great to hear that this curry came out well for you.

        Best wishes for your cooking experiments! I’m sure you mom will be proud of you :)

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Rakhesh KP

      First time a took a chance with Beef and it really went well. Thanks….

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Rakesh,

        Thanks and am glad your first time itself was a success :)

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Krupaphilip

      Hey Maria…..excellent recipe…I tried it out at home….too good and tasty…..nw I have become a big fan of your recipes :)

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Krupa,

        Thanks a lot for the comment! Its good to know that you liked the recipe. Please do try other recipes too when time permits.

        Happy cooking!

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Hannah

      Hi Maria,

      I am a regular visitor of  your site.I have tried  many recipes from your site and most of them were success.Yesterday I tried your beef curry and it was really awesome..My family loved it…Now a days I can’t live without your blog :):)
      Keep posting such wonderful recipes….

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Hannah,

        Its a pleasure to know that you are a regular visitor here. Thank you so much for your encouraging words dear :)

        Happy cooking!

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Lijomathew13

      Hi Maria,

      I made your beef curry… wowwww.. so tasty..thanks for your recipes god bless you…

      LIJO
      SHARJAH

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Thank you so much Lijo!

    • Kitty

      Hi Maria,
      I made this beef curry today and belive me it was over in seconds! Just very tasty and my friend who came over really loved it so much that he too now wants the recipe ,He is a Chef himself and to himto acknowledge me was something i wont ever dream!! hehe….. so thanks for the recipie…i have signed up for ur book.. hope to see it sooner on bookstores!!! Xmas gift for us the reader!!

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Kitty,

        I’m thrilled to read your comment :) Thanks a ton! Book is still very much work in progress, I do hope to spend more time on it…

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Leanne Titus

      Hi Maria… I’m new to this. A friend of mine suggested this site to me as I’m newly married and I’ve absolutely no idea about cooking. Just a few doubts to clarify. Hope you could help me out as I’ll be cooking on Christmas. 1st doubt, instead of the normal chilli powder, I’ll be using Easter Kashmiri Chilli Powder. So will I need to put the same measurement you have mentioned above or should I increase the count as Kashmiri Chilli powder is less spicy. Next doubt. You’ve given the recipe for 1/2 kg of beef. If I use 1 kg, this means, I’ll have to double the quantity of all the ingredients right. Please advise. And wishing you a Merry Christmas!!! :-)

      Next doubt on your way.. on the Chicken stew.. :-)

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Leanne,

        First of all, I’m sorry for the delayed reply. I was tied up with something & couldnt reply to the comments.

        So did you cook this already for Christmas? If so, I do hope it turned out well. About your doubts, if using Kashmiri chilli powder, you can increase the qty a bit to adjust the spiciness.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Leanne Titus

      One more Doubt Maria. Is it ok If I dont use Star Anise for this dish? Will it work out good? 

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Leanne,

        Its ok to leave out star anise, if you dont have it. It still works fine.

        Cheers
        Maria

    • http://www.facebook.com/sarath.ananthan Sarath Ananthan

      Mmmm… one of my favourites on your site. I’m making it for the 10th or 12th time now. Neverceases to amaze guests or my kid. Made many beef fans through this recipe and the other kallu shappu /Kerala beef fry recipes. Thank you so much and keep up the good work. Everyone who asks for the recipe gets ur site.

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Thank you so much for the comment Sarath! Great to know that you have made this recipe many times :)

        Thanks for sharing the site also…

        Cheers
        Maria

    • Sheeba

      HI Maria,

      Delicious to the core and easiest to make. never thought that a beef recipe could be whipped up in such a short time. It has become a must make once a week recipe in my home. Thank you so much maria.

      Sheeba

      • http://mariasmenu.com Maria Jose

        Hi Sheeba,

        Thanks a bunch for your wonderful feedback :) I’m really happy that this recipe works well for you. Thanks again for taking time to share your feedback here.

        Cheers
        Maria

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