Ceylon Beef Curry Recipes

Steps:

• Put the coriander and cumin into a dry frying pan and roast over low heat till dark brown in colour.
• Add the meat and all of the other spices, coconut cream and meat, simmer till meat is tender. (if the meat is too dry, add a little water ).
• Add the coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes Strain and keep the liquid, and set the meat on one side.
• Melt the ghee in a pan and fry the cooked meat for three mins, add the reserved liquid to the pan, bring to the boil and add the salt and lemon juice.
• Served with boiled rice.

Steps:

• Rinse the beef and pat dry. Crush the garlic cloves into a paste and combine it with the crushed ginger. Add the vinegar, salt, pepper, roasted curry powder, and cayenne. Mix in the beef cubes and toss to coat. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the curry leaves and pandan strips. Stir in the onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in the beef cubes and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and cloves. Add the tomato paste and water and mix well.
• Simmer, covered, on low heat for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender. Check the curry every half hour; you may need to add more water (up to 1 cup) if the curry is too dry and is sticking to the pan.
• Add the coconut milk and heat through. Taste and adjust the seasonings before serving.

Steps:

• In a dry pan over a low heat separately roast the coriander, cummin, fennel and fenugreek, stirring constantly until each one becomes fairly dark brown.
• Do not let them burn.
• Put into blender container together with cinnamon stick broken in pieces, the cloves, cardamon and curry leaves.
• Blend on high speed until finely powdered.
• Combine with chilli powder and ground rice if using.
• Store in an airtight jar.

Steps:

• Heat one tbsp of the oil in a casserole pot over a medium-high heat. Season the beef and fry in the pot for 5-8 mins, turning with a pair of tongs half way until evenly browned. Set aside on a plate.
• Heat the remaining oil and butter in the pan and add the onions. Fry gently for 15 mins or until golden brown and caramelised. Add the garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric, ground coriander and cardamom and fry for two mins. Tip in the tomatoes, stock and sugar and bring to the simmer.
• Add the beef, put a lid on top of the curry and cook over a low heat for 1 ½ - 2 hrs or until the meat is tender and falling apart. Remove the lid for the last 20 minutes of cooking.
• Stir through the garam masala and cream (if using) and season to taste. Scatter over the coriander and serve with naan breads or rice.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots, garlic and chili, and sauté until softened and starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, cinnamon stick, cloves and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute.
• Reduce heat to low and add the coconut milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the oysters and their liquor; simmer until the oysters are just firm, 3 to 4 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve over rice -- the rice in the fish recipe that follows would go well -- or on hoppers (see the recipe at nytimes.com/magazine).