This recipe calls for a stovetop pressure cooker – if you are looking for the instant pot version of this recipe, please visit this instant pot kerala beef fry post!
Yep, you read that right. Fried beef. It is quite fabulous. This fried beef recipe is made with beef, coconut bits, curry leaves and spices galore. It can be as spicy or as mild as you like. This recipe is actually a Christian Keralite dish called Erachi Ularthiyathu which means: beef fry. For Christians in India, especially in Kerala, beef is a staple and this particular recipe is considered a special dish by many – my hubby included.
There are a few steps to this dish, but the time it takes to make this is well worth it. Because it does take a bit of time, I usually make a large quantity and freeze half. For this recipe, I use two pounds of stew meat. I cut the stew meat into smaller pieces so that the beef gets coated with masala.
The first step in making this recipe is to gather the ingredients you need to marinate the beef. There’s a list of ingredients under “marinate” below – put them all in a plastic bag and then dump in the beef. Mix it all up and put it in the fridge for an hour or so.
Once the beef is done marinating, add everything in the bag to a pressure cooker along with ¼ cup water. The meat releases water as it cooks so you don’t need to add much. After 3-4 whistles, remove the meat from the hot stovetop and let it cool down before opening your cooker.
Begin the sauteing portion of your recipe. This is where you’ll make what’s called a tadka – which is basically an Indian method of tempering where you fry spices in oil. So, you’ll add oil to a pan and then add all the ingredients listed under “sauteing.”
Once the onions turn a nice golden brown, move the beef and gravy from the pressure cooker to your skillet. Saute until all the water is gone and the fried beef is nice and brown. You might need to add more oil if the masala coating starts to stick to the pan.
This dish tastes even better the next day… and the day after that, if you can keep it around that long.
Ingredients
Marinate:
- 2 lbs beef stew meat cut into cubes
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 1 tbs garlic minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cup red onion minced
- 2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 2 tsp Kashmiri Chili Powder
- 2 tsp meat masala
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 2 sprigs of Curry Leaves
- ½ tsp Fine Sea Salt
- ¼ cup of water
Saute:
- 2 tbs coconut oil
- 1 tsp Black Mustard Seeds
- ¼ cup coconut slices you can find frozen coconut meat/slices at your local Indian food store
- ¼ cup ginger chopped
- ¼ cup garlic cut into thin strips
- 1 large red onion sliced
- 2-3 serrano peppers slit lengthwise
- 4-5 sprigs of Curry Leaves
- 1 tsp meat masala
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the meat, drain and cut into small cubes.
- Marinate the beef with the ingredients listed under “marinate.” Let it rest for an hour or so.
- Put the marinated meat into a pressure cooker along with ¼ cup water and cook on medium-high heat.
- After 3-4 whistles, take it off the heat and let it cool down.
- In a pan, heat 2 tbs coconut oil and add mustard seeds. Once they start to splutter, add onions, serrano peppers, curry leaves and coconut pieces.
- After a couple minutes, add the the ginger and garlic. Saute until the onions turn golden brown.
- Add the meat from the pressure cooker along with any water inside to your pan.
- Lower your heat and let the meat and sauce simmer. Add 1 tsp meat masala and then salt and pepper to taste.
- Continue to cook until the water evaporates. If the masala begins to stick to the pan, add a little more oil and continue to fry the meat.
- Roast until it is dry and turns a nice brown color.
Liz says
How many minutes in the Instant pot?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Liz, here’s my instant pot recipe: https://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-kerala-beef-fry/ enjoy 🙂
Lauralee Oster says
You call for MEAT masala and GARAM masala. Are they the same and/or interchangeable ?
My Heart Beets says
You can read all about meat masala in this blog post. Meat masala is a south Indian garam masala – the garam masala you find in stores is almost always a north Indian blend which is why I suggest following my homemade recipe. Hope that helps clear things up!
Asha says
If I cook the beef in the Instant pot and did the rest on the stove top, how long should I pressure cook it in the IP?
Godwin says
Hi,
I have been looking for this recipe for a long time. I’ll definitely going to try this. 🙂 hope It will come out good.
My Heart Beets says
Let me know what you think! 🙂
Randomly Fascinated says
Is it possible to make this without a pressure cooker? It sounds delicious!
My Heart Beets says
I’ve been meaning to try with my slow cooker – when I do, I’ll update the recipe, so stay tuned 🙂
Renee says
I have a pressure cooker that doesn’t wistle. For how long should I keep it in the pressure cooker?
Nadine says
Would this work well with chicken you think since I don’t eat beef?
My Heart Beets says
I think this would work fine with chicken thighs or drumsticks. I actually have a similar Keralite chicken recipe that I’ll be posting next week – I suggest using that recipe instead 🙂 Will let you know once I post it!