Beef Kurumulakittathu | Beef Ghee Pepper Roast | Beef Dry Fry

Beef kurumulakittathu or Pepper roasted beef is a classic dish with the mouthwatering flavors of succulent beef pieces coated with pepper, other spices and lightly sweetened with coconut milk to reduce the heat. Each region in Kerala has a different recipe or style and varies from district to district.  This is my own tested tried and modified version of beef pepper roast. I have made this recipe without adding coconut milk too. The thick coconut milk adds the light sweetness along with shallots enhances the taste and reduces the spice levels. Also, the coconut milk adds a nice coating to the masala. I have dried up the masala completely in ghee but if you wish to have a coating type masala, then remove from heat a little early. This goes perfect with Kerala parotta, matta rice(choru) or chapathis as well. The pepper corns when crushed and  added to the cooked beef alleviates the flavor to irresistibly delicious. This dish never fails to appeal our senses with its complex set of spice mix and one of our favorites too. Do give this a try and enjoy !!

Preparation time ~ 15 minutes

Cooking time~ 30-35 minutes

Serves ~ 5 

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients 

beef 350 gms

onion / savala 1 small sliced

shallots/ kunjulli 1 cup sliced

curry leaves 

green chilies / pachamulaku 3-4

ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp 

turmeric powder / manjal podi 1/2 tsp

pepper powder / kurumulakku podi 1 tbsp 

coriander powder/ malli podi 1 tbsp

garam masala 1 tsp

salt to taste

for masala

shallots / kunjulli 1/4 cup reserved from above

ginger chopped 2 tsp

garlic chopped 2 tsp

curry leaves

coconut milk (thick) or 1st paal 1/3 cup

whole pepper corn crushed / muzhuvan kurumulaku 1 tbsp

garam masala 1/2 tsp

sliced coconut (thenga kothu) 2 tbsps

salt

ghee 2 tbsps

curry leaves, a sprig(thandu)

Watch on YouTube (I have modified the recipe slightly, you can use either of the two recipes)

Method

• Wash and clean the beef under running water for 3–4 times and squeeze out excess water and place in a strainer bowl.
• Chop all veggies and keep aside.
• Take a pressure cooker and add in the beef, the spice powders listed and the chopped veggies (reserve 1/4 cup of chopped shallots/kunjulli and keep aside) to this, add 1/3 cup water to cook and put over flame. Lightly saute the beef, add in salt and close the pressure cooker and cook for 3–4 whistles or till it's done (adding water to beef depends on the type of meat and the time needed to cook the same, also the number of whistles depends on the meat too, so please keep a check on this).

• Now, wait till the pressure is released in the pressure cooker, open and check if any water left. If there is water or gravy present, dry off the moisture by putting on the stove again.

• In another cast iron or kadai or iron frying-pan, add ghee and oil or use ghee alone. Add the sliced coconut and sauté until very lightly browned. To this add chopped garlic and ginger and sauté until lightly crisp and the sliced coconut turn brown. Then add reserved chopped shallots, curry leaves and sauté until translucent. Then add in the crushed whole pepper corn and garam masala. Finally, toss in the beef with gravy mix and combine well.

• To this add the thick coconut milk and mix well. Put flame on high, dry up all moisture left in beef and due to coconut milk. Add salt if needed. Continue to sauté till the beef looks dry or a step earlier than dry. I generally switch off the flame when the masala looks coated well and is semi dry. Leave on residual heat from stove and this dries up any moisture left.If you want the semi gravy consistency, then transfer immediately to a serving bowl.

NOTES

* Adding coconut milk adds a sweetness along with shallots and elevates the beef to a next level which can't be explained here, and you must try and enjoy. Adding coconut milk also reduces the spice level, so increase or decrease your spices or omit adding coconut milk like I did in the video accordingly.

* Ghee adds a unique aroma to this dish.

MORE BEEF RECIPES

* Beef  Dry Fry

* Beef Ularthiyathu /Beef Roast

* Kerala Style Beef Curry

* Beef Dum Biriyani

* Beef Cutlet

* Beef Mappas