Recipe: Beef Curry with Potatoes

A lot of people are really intimidated by Indian food, but this is really just meat and potatoes - with a kick of curry!  Believe me, you can cook Indian food at home; and neither you nor your home with smell.  Read on for my tricks!

This is really a North American dish with Indian flavours. Beef isn't generally eaten in India for religious reasons, but you could also substitute lamb. This would be a great introductory dish to someone who hasn't yet acquired a taste for Indian food.


Tip: If you're afraid cooking Indian food at home because of the strong aromas, simply light a few nearby candles.  The flame with burn away the oils in the air.  Trust me this always works!

Serves 4 with rice or naan bread

Ingredients:

-1 lb beef blade or chuck* cut into 1" cubes
-1 large potato, peeled and washed, and cut into 2" pieces
-1 tbsp vegetable oil
-1 medium onion, diced
-2 garlic cloves, minced
-1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1/2 tbsp ground tumeric
-1/2 tbsp cumin
-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp if you really like it spicy!)
-2 tbsp tomato paste
-1 cup low sodium chicken stock

Optional:  You can also add a can of drained, rinsed chickpease when you add the potatoes for more vegetables and protein.

• In a pot over medium heat, add oil, onions, garlic, and ginger.  Stir and cook for about 5 min.
• Turn heat up to medium-high, and add beef.  Stir and brown meat on all sides, about 8-10 min.
• Add tumeric, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Stir to coat meat.  Cook spices for 1 min.
• Add tomato paste and stir to coat meat.
• Add chicken stock and bring to boil.
• Cover with a tight fitting lid, and lower heat to a simmer.  Cook for 40 min.
• Add potatoes and cover with lid again.  Simmer for another 20 mins.

*Beef blade or chuck is the shoulder cut of meat.  If you can't find it, ask your butcher.  It's usually sold as boneless roasting meat and you can just cut it into cubes.  You could also use stewing beef, but it won't be as flavourful and you will have to cook the beef for about 1 1/2 hrs before adding the potatoes.