This recipe and others can be found in the 12-part illustrated series “A World of Curries”. You can read all about this unique Indian flavor here.
Ingredients
4 ounces fresh coconut, grated
Vegetable oil for deep frying
2 pounds beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon tamarind concentrate
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 kaffir lime leaves, crushed
2 4-inch stalks lemongrass, bulb included, chopped
2 3-inch pieces galangal, peeled and chopped (or substitute ginger)
10 shallots, peeled and chopped
5 fresh red chiles, such as serranos or jalapeños, stems removed
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons soy sauce
6 cups coconut milk, recipe here
Instructions
In a fryer, deep-fry the coconut in the oil until dark brown.
Combine the coconut, beef, salt, sugar, and tamarind concentrate and marinate in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
In a food processor, combine the turmeric, lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, shallots, chiles, garlic, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and soy sauce, and puree to a fine paste.
Saute the paste in a large pan for 2 minutes, add the marinated beef, and saute for 5 minutes. Add the coconut milk, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for about 2 hours, or until the beef starts to fall apart and the gravy thickens. Add more water if necessary.
