Traditional style beef masala curry recipe enveloped with rich gravy is the real comfort food to serve with naan bread and rice. Tender and juicy beef chunks cooked on slow heat with Indian spices, garam masala, yogurt, and tomatoes make a perfect taste for a family dinner.
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Indian and Pakistani cuisine is packed with loaded gravy, especially curry. This recipe is the extended version of my other curry recipes. Here I used, simple and quick way to cook beef masala curry on stove top using the slow heating method. The end result was not only giving comforting vibes to have it but also made me satisfied with the taste. The umami flavor of Smoothly textured gravy with tendered beef pieces was extremely delicious and self-inviting.
What is Beef Masala?
Simply, it’s curry!!! full of spices called masala. Beef masala is cooked in different ways to get a different flavor but the spices and other ingredients remain the same. Some people make it without gravy and some like to have it with a layer of greasy gravy. You can cook it in a pressure cooker, instant pot, or simply in a regular pan at slow heat.
In Pakistan, beef masala curry is popular and people love to make it with bones and without bones. There are some associated recipes that I think the extension of beef masala is beef korma that only cook with yogurt and barista. Another is the beef karahi that cooked with the flavor of tomatoes. Here in this recipe, you will get mutual flavor of yogurt and tomatoes with jalapeno chilies that makes it super delicious in taste and also add a specific chili aroma in curry.
My mother used to make this recipe and always pair up with desi fried rice and believe me the taste was awesome. I still miss that aroma of cooking and always practice the same lineage of cooking in real time. I hope many of you who grew up or got married will relate.
Why This Recipe Works?
- Cooked with Minimal Spices: Yes, I didn’t use many spices to make this recipe so it’s simple and easy that you can quickly make in your kitchen. Only it takes cooking time on stove top that can easily minimize to cook in pressure cooker or instant pot.
- Multi Purpose Recipe: You can make it ahead of time like a week before and reheat it before serving. You can use the leftover curry in different ways to make biryani or pulao, or sometimes I add some veggies like okra, cauliflower, or simple potatoes to give it a different flavor. Isn’t it amazing? Believe me nobody at home judge I used the leftover until I tell them.
- Best Recipe For Family Dinner: believe me, it’s the best recipe of family dinner as it is loaded with gravy that increases the portion size of curry to eat with naan.
Ingredients
Beef: Used medium size curry cut bone in beef to make this recipe. Bones will add a perfect taste in curry at slow cooking.
Oil: To create the lustrous and shiny look of the curry, I have added 1 tablespoon of cooking oil that will make a perfect texture.
Onion Garlic & Ginger: I used electric chopper to finely chop the onion, garlic and ginger together. This step will help to make smooth and thicken curry. Also, will help to save the time of chopping.
Spices: red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder used to make this recipe.
Yogurt: Use thick yogurt in curry as it will add a creamy and savory flavor. If the yogurt is watery in look then blend it before adding in curry.
Tomatoes: Used fresh pulpy tomato cubes without skin.
Green Chili Peppers: Thick green chili peppers used in this recipe that will add a sweet and tangy taste with vegetal earthy flavor that will enhance the taste of curry. Thick jalapeno style peppers are less heated or spicy as compared to thin chilies.
Kasuri Methi (Optional): sprinkle the dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) in powder form will enhance the taste of curry but it's optional. If you love the flavor of kasuri methi then add otherwise skip.
How to Make Beef Masala
- In a pan, heat up oil and saute finely chopped onion, ginger and garlic on medium flame.
- As the onion starts to change the color to pink, add beef and cook on high heat. Keep stirring until the beef starts to change color. This step will take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add all the spices and cook again on high heat to get rid with spice rawness.
- Mix the curry well during this process.
5. Now add yogurt and tomatoes and cook on high heat until it shows a form of curry.
6. Keep stirring the curry during this process.
7. As the tomatoes mixed with curry and shows a homogenous texture then add water and mix well.
8. Cover and cook the curry for 40 to 45 minutes on slow heat.
9. After cooking on slow heat, mix the curry and add green chilies.
10. Give it a good mix! Curry with green chilies and cover again for 5 to 10 minutes to penetrate the flaovr of chilies in curry.
Now the beef masala curry is ready to serve!
Beef Masala Video
Tips to Cook Tender Beef
- Check the quality of beef before cooking. Fresh beef always looks pink in color. If it's getting dark or showing purple texture then it's not good for cooking. It need to be firm and dense in texture.
- Cook the raw beef on high heat as it will help to evaporate the natural water of beef and also seal the pores to make it juicier while cooking.
- Avoid to use the big pieces of beef. Small chunks with bone makes better flavor.
- Cook on slow heat to get tender meat.
- You can use pressure cooker or instant pot to tenderize the meat.
Serving Suggestions
Beef masala always serve with naan, roti or paratha. You can serve it with garlic naan or simply with roghni naan to double the flavor of curry. Another way to serve with steamed rice. I love to have it with garlic butter fried rice. Give it a try and you will love it.
Q & A
Shoulder cut or chuck is more lean to cook.
Yes, you can! Here I prepared homemade curry masala powder that you can store in pantry for 6 months and use all types of Pakistani and Indian curry.
Here is the complete guide of cooking methods to cook meat of desired flavor.
If the curry is showing runny texture then cook it on high heat to evaporate excess water. If it's not showing smooth or thick consistency then check my post to identify the problem and apply the solution to make it thick.
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Beef Masala Recipe
Materials
- 500 g Beef Boti
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- ½ Cup Onion Ginger & Garlic Chopped
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- ½ cup Yogurt
- 1 Cup Tomato Cubes
- 1 Cup Water
- 4 Chilies Thick (Jalapeno style)
Instructions
Stove Top Cooking on Slow Heat
- In a pan, heat up oil and saute finely chopped onion, ginger, and garlic on medium flame.
- As the onion starts to change color to pink, add beef and cook on high heat. Keep stirring until the beef starts to change color. This step will take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add all the spices and cook again on high heat to get rid of spice rawness.
- Mix the curry well during this process.
- Now add yogurt and tomatoes and cook on high heat until it shows a form of curry.
- Keep stirring the curry during this process.
- As the tomatoes are mixed with curry and show a homogenous texture then add water and mix well.
- Cover and cook the curry for 40 to 45 minutes on slow heat.
- After cooking on slow heat, mix the curry and add green chilies.
- Give it a good mix! Curry with green chilies and cover again for 5 to 10 minutes to penetrate the flavor of chilies in curry.
How to Cook Beef Masala in Instant Pot
- Switch on the Instant pot and at Saute mode, heat up oil and add chopped onion, garlic and ginger and cook until it changes color to pink.
- Add beef and cook for few minutes until the meat changes its color. Also, add spices and give it a good mix. Cook for 1 minute to get rid the spice rawness.
- Now add yogurt and tomato cubes and cook until the yogurt and tomato properly mix with curry.
- Add 1 glass of water and cover the instant pot and Pressure cook for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, unlock the vent to release pressure. It will take 10 to 15 minutes and then remove the lid and give it a good mix.Now turn on saute mode and add chilies and cook for 5 to 10 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Take good quality beef to make curry. Touch the meat, if it shows a firm texture then it's good.
- Small pieces of beef chuck (shoulder cut) with bone make a perfect flavor in curry.
- You can also add different veggies to cook with this curry.
- Always cook on slow heat to get a consistent, smooth, and thick curry.
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