Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Daniela Apostol · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

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Simple Beef Curry Recipe, a wonderfully fragrant dish that is hearty and filling. The beef simply melts in the mouth, while the sauce has a lovely mild Indian flavour. A big favourite for dinner, this easy beef curry is better than any take away.

Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (1)

This is definitely a dish after my own heart. I'm quite a big fan of curries, although I do go for the mild ones rather than authentic curry recipes which are usually a bit too fiery for my own taste.

So my curries tend to be exactly that: my own version of classic recipes, but equally delicious. You can, of course, add some more spice if you don't mind the heat.

Unlike chicken, which would be ready in about 30 minutes or so, this beef curry takes a lot longer to cook. If you want you beef super tender melting in your mouth, this can only be achieved by cooking it slowly on the stove top.

But just because it's not my usually quick recipe, it does not mean that it's not dead easy to make it. It's all a matter of getting the ingredients in the pan, and gradually adding more beef stock (broth). Pretty simple, isn't it?

Jump to:
  • Ingredients needed
  • Step-by-step photos and instructions
  • How much beef broth is needed for the beef curry?
  • Can the curry be cooked in a slow cooker?
  • What to serve with beef curry
  • Other curry recipes
  • Simple Beef Curry Recipe

Ingredients needed

Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2)
  • stewing beef - it requires slow cooking so it can become tender
  • onion - I used a large one, otherwise 2 regular onions should so
  • garlic - I used 3 cloves of garlic, but feel free to use more if you wish
  • ginger - fresh ginger works wonderfully here, otherwise ground ginger is ok too
  • oil - for searing the beef and frying the onions
  • spices: garam masala, turmeric, chilli powder, bay leaves, cumin
  • yogurt - I used Greek yogurt, but cream or simple yogurt are also ok
  • beef stock/broth - depending on the beef used, you might need to use more or less
  • tomatoes - used regular tomatoes, but cherry tomatoes are also ok
  • salt & pepper

Step-by-step photos and instructions

Beef can be a tough and chewy meat unless cooked long enough until tender. And that's what we are going to do with this recipe.

  • start by heating up the oil in a large pan
  • add the beef and sear, then remove it from the pan and add the remaining oil
  • gently frying the onion until lightly brown, then add the garlic, ginger and spices and leave to cook for 30 seconds or so - -that will fully release the flavours of the spices, which means that the meat will soak them all up.
Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (3)
  • add the chopped tomatoes and leave to cook for about 5 minutes or so until slightly mushy
  • throw in the cubed beef and stock, and leave to cook with the lid on, checking from time to time to make sure it doesn't dry up, and add enough beef stock until the meat is tender.
  • add the yogurt, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh parsley or coriander
Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (4)

How much beef broth is needed for the beef curry?

I used about 5 cups of broth, but the amount will depend entirely on how tender the meat is. If you think that the sauce is no longer as spiced as you like, given that quite a bit of broth has been added, add more spices to it.

Can the curry be cooked in a slow cooker?

Absolutely, in this way you know for sure that the beef will be wonderfully tender. I would still fry the onions, garlic, ginger and spices on the stove top though, so you can get the most of the lovely spices. Once the tomatoes are mushy, transfer everything to the slow cooker.

Add the beef, and 2 cups of beef broth, and leave to cook for at least 8 hours on slow or 4 on high. In the slow cooker we don't need that much beef broth, since the steam does not escape.

If the sauce is still a bit watery, leave to cook for longer, and add some corn starch to it. But the cream usually thickens the sauce anyway, just see how it looks once the meat is cooked.

What to serve with beef curry

This curry is so delicious, and super easy to make too. Serve it with plain basmati rice or pilau rice, and you are in for a treat. Flatbread is another great addition to your curry, as well as chapati, poppadum or soda bread.

Other curry recipes

Leftover Roast Beef Curry

Leftover Turkey Curry

Indian Fish Curry with Coconut Milk

Indian Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (5)

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Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (6)

Simple Beef Curry Recipe

Simple Beef Curry Recipe, a wonderfully fragrant dish that is hearty and filling. The beef simply melts in the mouth, while the sauce has a lovely mild Indian flavour. A big favourite for dinner, this easy beef curry is better than any take away.

4.16 from 25 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 1059kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

  • 600 g cubed beef ( 1 ½ pounds of beef)
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 2 cm fresh ginger
  • 3 large tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 5 cups beef stock (broth)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
  • fresh parsley or coriander to garnish
  • salt and pepper to taste

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • In a pan, heat up the oil, add the cubed beef, season with salt and pepper, and brown.

  • Remove it from the pan, and set aside.

  • In the same pan, add the peeled and chopped onion, and frying on a low to medium heat until golden.

  • Add the garlic, ginger and all the spices, and give it a good stir.

  • Leave to cook for about 30 seconds or so for the flavours to be released.

  • Add the chopped tomatoes, and leave to cook until slightly mushy.

  • Add the cubed beef and half of the stock, and turn the heat to medium.

  • Place a lid on the pan and leave it to cook until the beef is tender, adding the rest of the stock as needed.

  • Once the beef is tender, and the sauce is reduced, add the yogurt (make sure the yogurt is at room temperature so it doesn't curdle), and leave to cook for a further 5 minutes.

  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Remove from the heat, and garnish with fresh parsley.

Video

Notes

  • If you want to cook the curry in a slow cooker, follow the exact same steps on the stove top, and before the stock needs adding, transfer everything to the slow cooker, add only2 cups of beef broth, and leave to cook for at least 8 hours on slow or 4 on high. In the slow cooker we don't need that much beef broth, since the steam does not escape.
  • If the sauce is still a bit watery, leave to cook for longer, and add some corn starch to it. But the cream usually thickens the sauce anyway, just see how it looks once the meat is cooked.

Nutrition

Calories: 1059kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 67g | Fat: 74g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 1434mg | Potassium: 2607mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2160IU | Vitamin C: 36.5mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 9.6mg

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Simple Beef Curry Recipe - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

Indian chef Maunika Gowardhan suggests using tomato purée, coconut milk or yoghurt as natural thickening agents to achieve the perfect consistency. Adding ground nuts such as almonds or peanuts can also be a great way to ensure your curry is a knockout.

What is the best beef for curry? ›

Chuck Steak

Chuck is juicy, flavourful, and versatile with the fatty juices providing a rich, delicious curry. Plus, the chuck steak is easy to cut into small pieces, so it cooks quickly and evenly.

Why is my beef tough in curry? ›

First off, cooking meat causes it to lose moisture and the tissues shrink, making it tougher. Braising (cooking meat in a liquid) allows the meat to reabsorb moisture and breaks down the tough tissues. This lead to a more tender piece of meat.

What is the most important ingredient in curry? ›

The key ingredient in most Indian curries is a blend of spices known as garam masala. Garam masala typically contains a mixture of ground spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, coriander, cloves, and black pepper.

What is the most important spice in curry? ›

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

Do you cook meat before adding to curry? ›

Typically, when making an Indian curry, I heat oil, add whole spices, then add and cook onions, add and cook ginger + garlic, add dry spices + tomatoes, and cook the meat in the sauce.

Why is my beef not tender in curry? ›

Tough cuts of beef that are typically used in stews have lots of collagen, which is what makes them so tough. Collagen turns into gelatin when exposed to heat (and moisture) for a sufficiently long time. Typically this means cooking it for several hours on a low heat.

How do Chinese make beef so tender? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

How do restaurants get their meat so tender? ›

Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate). If you find the meat has a spongy texture aside from being very tender, then very likely the restaurant put baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) in the marinade. The sodium in baking soda chemically reacts with the meat and make the meat very tender and soft.

Why is my beef curry bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

Should I brown meat for curry? ›

Step 1: Brown the meat

Searing the meat is a great way to build layers of flavor into your curry, but you'll need to add it in batches to get a hard sear and prevent steaming. Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the meat in batches, browning it on all sides, about 5 minutes.

How do you thicken meat curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

How can I enhance my curry flavor? ›

The easiest way to fix a bland and tasteless curry is by adding spices like red chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, curry leaves and turmeric. Just make a quick tempering and pour over the curry to give it a nice punch of spices and herbs.

What makes curry taste good? ›

Type of spices: Curries use a wide range of spices, some mild and some, strong. Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, and most red chili pepper even, are mild and used in daily cooking. However, spices like cardamom, star anise, cloves, and nutmeg can be quite strong used sparingly, but to great effect.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

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