Nadan Beef Curry. Through this dish I was trying to recreate the sweet memories of my child hood days. It all started with a chat I had with my recently married cousin sis. We were discussing about her cooking experiments. Suddenly she asked me, ‘do you remember Mary Chedathy’s beef curry?’ Mary Chedathy was our grandma’s assistant, our nanny, all rolled into one. She used to make a beef curry, the thought of which still makes my mouth water. After having a long discussion about her beef curry, I almost decided to give it a try and started thinking about the ingredients, method and all.
Finally I ended up with the recipe below. There is a small difference from her curry, as the gravy was thin. I made it thick for a change. The main ingredient apart from the beef is potato (I still remember how we used to fight for the potato pieces as kids :)
So here is a modified version of our dear Mary Chedathy’s beef curry.
- Beef – 1/2 kg, cleaned and cut into small pieces
- Potato – 1 medium, cut into big cubes
- Onion – 2 medium
Ginger & garlic – crushed, 1 tbsp each
Green chilli – 2, slit lenghtwise - Chili powder – 1/2 tbsp
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
Meat masala – 1 tsp - Medium thick coconut milk – 1 1/2 – 2 cups
Thick coconut milk – 1/2 – 1 cup - Small onion – 4,5 chopped
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Fennel seeds (perumjeerakam) – a pinch - Curry leaves
- Coconut oil
Heat oil and saute onion. Once it starts becoming brown add crushed ginger & garlic, green chilli and curry leaves. Stir for 2,3 minutes. Add masala powders and stir for 5 minutes. when the oil starts separating add beef & potato. Combine well. Add medium thick coconut milk. Cook till the beef & potato is done. Once the beef is cooked and gravy becomes thick , add thick coconut milk & mix. When it starts boiling, remove from gas.
Heat oil in a pan & splutter mustard seeds and fennel seeds. Add small onion & curry leaves, once the onion becomes golden brown add it to the curry. This curry is a perfect side dish for chappathi, appam, rice.
