Beef Fry

CRISPY & SPICY

If you’re tired of boring charcuterie boards at every get-together, it’s time to start making Sri Lankan-style Beef Fry for your next party. Tender beef chunks are simmered with tamarind, roasted curry powder, ginger, and garlic to infuse rich, deep flavors. Once the beef is perfectly tender, it’s quickly fried to achieve a crispy exterior, then tossed with toasted curry leaves, dried chilies, and onions. The result? A spicy, crunchy, and irresistibly flavorful dish that pairs perfectly with drinks and is sure to be a hit at any gathering.

I love preparing this because it brings the kind of flavor and spice that traditional appetizers often lack. It honestly goes so well with all your party drinks—the spice isn’t too intense but just enough to bring that little bit of heat you need to get the party going. This dish is fun to make, even more fun to eat, and guaranteed to impress your guests. So give this a try and get ready for this dish to be your go to crowding pleasing app!

TIPS & TRICKS

Tip #1: Mix 1 tsp of water with the tamarind paste to soften it up before adding it to the beef.

Serving Size:

8 servings

Time:

1 hr

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Ingredients

500g beef chunks
1 cinnamon stick
1’’ knob ginger
4 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp tamarind paste (see Tip #1)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 ½ tsp turmeric
1 ½ tsp cumin
2 tsp chilli powder
5-6 cardamom pods (bruised)
1 cup of water
8-10 curry leaves
1 white onion
2 dried red chillies
1 tsp red chilli flakes
2 tbsp oil

Directions

Cut the beef into 1-inch chunks and toss them into a pot.
Add chopped ginger, minced garlic, tamarind paste, a cinnamon stick, and spices. Pour in water to cover the ingredients.
Simmer over medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and toast the whole dried chilies and curry leaves until fragrant. Add white onion and chilli flakes, letting them toast. Remove from heat and set aside.
In the same pan, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Once hot, scoop the beef into the pan. Let the beef get crispy, then turn off the heat and add the onion mix.
Plate it up and get ready to serve at your next get-together!