Beef and Eggplant Curry Recipe

 

      Ingredients
  • onions - 2, thinly sliced
  • garlic - 2 cloves, crushed
  • fresh turmeric - 2.5cm/1 in, peeled and crushed
  • braising steak - 675g/1½ lb, cut in even size strips
  • water - 300ml/½ pint/1¼ cups
  • tamarind pulp - 5ml/1 tsp, soaked in 60ml/4 tbsp warm water
  • fresh root ginger - 2.5cm/1 in, sliced and cut in matchsticks
  • sunflower oil - 120ml/4fl oz/½ cup
  • red chilies - 2, seeded and finely sliced
  • lemon grass stem - 1, lowed part sliced finely, top bruised
  • can coconut milk - 400ml/14fl oz
  • eggplant - 1, sliced and patted dry
  • black pepper and salt
  • sliced chilies (optional) and deep-fried onion to garnish
  • boiled rice to serve

      Method

  • Heat half the oil and fry the onions, garlic, and ginger until they give off a rich aroma.
  • Add the chilies, the lower part of the lemon grass and turmeric. Push to one side and then turn up the heat and add the steak, stirring until the meat changes color.
  • Add the coconut milk, lemon grass top, and water and seasoning to taste.
  • Cover and simmer gently for 1½ hours, or until the meat is tender.
  • Toward the end of the cooking time heat the remaining oil in a frying pan. Fry the eggplant slices until brown on both sides.
  • Add the browned eggplant slices to the beef curry and cook for a further 15 minutes. Stir gently from time to time.
  • Strain the tamarind and stir the juice into the curry. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
  • Put into a warm serving dish. Garnish with sliced chilies, if using, and deep-fried onions, and serve with boiled rice. Serves 6.

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