This delicious, comforting and aromatic Kerala ground beef stew is made by cooking ground meat, potatoes and carrots in spiced coconut milk. By using an instant pot, you can have this stew ready to eat in no time!
Kerala Ground Beef Stew
This ground beef coconut milk stew is my simpler take on the popular Keralite “ishtu” (stew). Rather than use stew meat, I use ground meat because it’s a protein I almost always have on hand and it cooks very quickly – making this an easy dish to throw together at the last minute.
The coconut milk helps to mellow out the stew, making this a mildly spiced curry. This is typically served as a special weekend breakfast or brunch dish but thanks to the instant pot, it’s so easy to make that I often whip it up as a weeknight meal.
Beef stew is a Keralite Christian dish – if you don’t eat beef, feel free to use any ground meat! Instead of ground beef, you can use ground lamb or goat, chicken, turkey, etc.
I first came up with this ground beef stew several years ago (here is my stovetop version). I found myself wanting Kerala beef stew but only had ground beef in the fridge. Now I find the ground beef version so easy to make that it’s my go-to any time a stew craving strikes!
If you like this recipe, be sure to try out my Kerala Chicken Stew next!
“Love this recipe! I make it regularly and hubby, who loves coconut milk in anything, never leaves a drop.”
Debbie
Instant Pot Kerala Ground Meat Coconut Curry
Instant Pot Kerala Ground Meat Coconut Curry
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 onion diced
- 1 Serrano pepper or green chili minced
- 20 curry leaves
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- Spices
- 2 teaspoons meat masala
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 pound ground beef or ground meat of choice
- 3 carrots chopped
- 1 potato chopped
- ¼ cup water
- 1 13.5 ounce can full-fat coconut milk
Instructions
- Press the sauté button, add the coconut oil. Once it melts, add the mustard seeds and when they begin to pop, add the onion, Serrano pepper and curry leaves. Stir-fry for 6-7 minutes, or until the onions begin to brown.
- Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the spices, stir, then add the ground meat and cook until it is mostly browned.
- Add the carrots, potatoes and ¼ cup water.
- Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 4 minutes at high pressure.
- Open the valve to quick release any remaining pressure.
- Stir in the coconut milk.
Arjun says
Looking forward to trying this. What do you usually serve this with? Appam?
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Appam would be perfect! You can eat it with rice (especially matta rice) too.
Sn George says
We tried it with beef chunks and it was delicious 😋 Must try recipe. The gravy is to die for☺️Thanks again, Ashley for the yummy recipe 🤗
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know how much you like this 🙂
Debbie Finkelstein says
Love this recipe! I make it regularly and hubby, who loves coconut milk in anything, never leaves a drop.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Debbie, that’s so great to hear! Thanks for letting me know how much you and your hubby like this recipe 🙂
SRN says
Made this. As always with your recipes, so good! So fragrant & tasty! Thanks once again!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know how this turned out for you 🙂
S says
My north Indian husband begs me for this dish weekly! It comes together perfectly and your spices are spot on. Thank goodness for your recipes and the Instant Pot, especially during the quarantine.
My Heart Beets says
That’s so awesome to hear! Thanks for letting me know how much you guys are enjoying my recipes 🙂
Jincy Zachariah says
This is absolutely an amazing dish!! Even my 3 1/2 year old twins loved it! Thankyou so much!
My Heart Beets says
Hi Jincy! That’s so great to hear 🙂 Thanks for letting me know how much you and your twins like this dish!
Divya says
do u think this would work well with beef chunks instead? if so do u think 1 lb would still be sufficient? thanks so much!
Isabelle says
I made this last night–followed the recipe to the letter. I was worried that 1/4 c of water wouldn’t be enough bring the IP up to pressure but it was! It was DELICIOUS! I at half of it in one sitting. Much milder than I expected. The coconut milk really mellowed out the spices. I will definitely make this again.
My Heart Beets says
Isabelle, that’s so great to hear! Thanks for letting me know how the stew turned out for you 🙂
Andrew Kynoch says
Tastes Great, added some cauliflower. 4th recipe in two weeks, very happy to have found MyHeartBeets. My Instant Pot had been sitting used once until I came across you.
My Heart Beets says
Andrew, I’m so happy to hear that found my blog and are liking my recipes! Can’t wait to hear what you think about anything else you try 🙂
Veda says
Found this recipe in your cookbook, and tried it the other day – it’s the meat masala that makes it all magical! Also, I substituted 1.3lbs of chicken thighs (because I didn’t have any ground meat on hand), and added the coconut milk before cooking…wow…blew my mind! I saw it was similar to your korma recipe. Anyway, I say all that to say, THANK YOU for changing the way I cook Indian food – I am your biggest fan! Your recipes are so adaptable, but I love how I can just blindly follow your recipes EXACTLY and they’re perfect.
My Heart Beets says
Veda, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know how this turned out for you and for the kind words 🙂
Maya says
So, so good! Picky son loved it too – yay! I boiled with the coconut milk – does that make a difference, do you think?
My Heart Beets says
That’s awesome!! As for the coconut milk – I think it’s fine either way to add it before or after pressure cooking 🙂
Susan says
I would have never thought of using ground meat for making stew but that is exactly what I had and it was delicious!! This is the second recipe of yours that have made in the past week. The chicken biryani was delicious as well and honestly I was skeptical as I have been disappointed in the past with cooking Indian chicken curries in the instanpot. So thank you!!
My Heart Beets says
Susan, I’m so happy to hear that you made and liked this! Happy you liked the biryani too! Thanks for letting me know how they turned out for you. I hope you’ll like all of the recipes you make from my site 🙂
Sharmiza says
Can I use coconut powder? And how much.
Soma says
OMG Ashley, this is amazing! It’s so hearty and satisfying! I made the meat masala using your recipe too. I am trying not to help myself to another bowl! Thanks so much!
My Heart Beets says
Soma, I’m so happy to hear that you like this so much!! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out for you 🙂