If you want to spice up your dinner routine, try this hearty beef masala! This flavorful Indian cuisine is popular in many Indian restaurants in New Zealand and is known for its mouthwatering blend of spices and tender meat. It is easy to whip up, especially with a pressure cooker, and it also pairs perfectly with various breads and rice. Let’s dive into this delicious beef masala recipe that promises warmth and comfort with every bite!

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Main ingredients required for the beef masala recipe

• Beef. I suggest using rump, topside, brisket, or chuck steak instead of high-quality cuts like sirloin since the stewing or pressure-cooking process will break down the beef, making it tender. Therefore, it is not necessary to use high-quality beef.
• Whole spices. The whole spices I use are black pepper, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. In addition, you can also include coriander seeds and fennel seeds in the spice mix.
• Ground spices. The ground spices include chili powder, chili flakes, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric powder, paprika, and ground black pepper. It is always better to use fresh whole spices than ground spices. I use a mix of ground and whole spices for convenience.
• Garlic, ginger, onion. You can use the fresh one or buy the ready-made ginger-garlic paste, which is popular in Indian cooking. Also, thinly sliced onion helps thicken the gravy as it cooks.
• Tomato. Finally, you may add chopped tomato to enhance the flavor, though this is optional.

How to prepare beef masala

a. Saute the spices and brown the beef

1. Start by cutting the beef into one-inch pieces.
2. Brown the beef over medium-high heat, single layer in a pan with some oil until both sides are golden brown. This step will produce a better flavor, especially if you stew it on the stovetop or slow cooker subsequently.
3. Saute the black pepper, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, and cloves with vegetable oil over low heat until aromatic (about a minute). Please do not use high heat, as these spices can burn quickly.
4. After that, include the sliced onion in the spices and keep sauteing until the onion becomes translucent and slightly brown. It will take a few minutes.
5. Add the beef pieces to the spice and sauté onions to cook for five minutes. The beef will become dry as the liquid from the onion evaporates.
6. Add the ginger-garlic paste and continue frying until fragrant. 
7. Next, add salt, ground chili powder, chili flakes, garam masala, coriander powder, turmeric powder, paprika, and ground black pepper.  Some cooks include green cardamom and bay leaf in the spice blend for additional flavor.  Also, add the chopped tomato (or tomato paste).

b, Pressure-cooked the beef

1. To stew the beef, add water or beef broth to the beef. The quantity of liquid required is determined by how much gravy you want. I prefer a dry beef masala, so I use the minimum amount of liquid to cook the beef. If you prefer gravy, add more water and adjust the saltiness accordingly.
2. Now, stew the beef in a pressure cooker until tender. Using the pressure cooker to stew the beef produces better texture, color, and tenderness than slow-cooked beef.
3. Once the beef cubes have become tender, add the yogurt and cook for five minutes.
4. Finally, transfer the beef masala to a serving dish and sprinkle some coriander as garnish before presenting it.

How to cook on the stovetop instead of using a pressure cooker?

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can still complete the cooking process on the stovetop. Simply place all the ingredients into a pot and cook over low heat. This method will take longer—up to two hours—until the beef becomes soft and tender. Aside from this, the cooking process remains the same.

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Beef Masala

Yield: 3 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Spice up your dinner routine with our easy beef masala. Prepared with aromatic spices and tender beef to make this dish a flavorful delight.

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Ingredients

Ingredients A

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 cinnamon bark
• 3 cloves
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Ingredients B

• 1 medium size onion, sliced
• 1 medium size tomato, chopped
• 500g beef, boneless
• 5 MINUTES
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1/4 cups water

Ingredients C

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper

Ingredients D

• 3 tbsp yogurt
• Coriander leaves to garnish

Instructions

1. Cutting the beef into about one-inch pieces.
2. Saute ingredients A with oil over low heat. Once you can smell their aroma, add the sliced onions to the fragrant spices. Keep stirring until the onions become translucent and slightly browned.
3. Add beef pieces to the spice and sauté onions to cook for five minutes. 
4. Add the ginger-garlic paste and continue frying until fragrant. 
5. Next, add Ingredients C and chopped tomato to the beef. 
6. Adding water or beef broth to stew the beef until tender. 
7. Once the beef cubes have become tender, add the yogurt and cook for five minutes.
8. Finally, transfer the beef masala to a serving dish.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves to serve.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Asian Kitchen Ginger-Garlic Cooking Paste 26.5oz (750g) ~ Vegan | Glass Jar | Gluten Free | NON-GMO | No Colors | Indian Origin
• 
  McCormick Cinnamon Sticks, 0.75 oz
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  Great Bazaar Swad Cumin Seeds, 7 Ounce
• 
  Rani Garam Masala Indian 11 Spice Blend 3oz (85g) Salt Free ~ All Natural | Vegan | Gluten Free Ingredients | NON-GMO

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 622Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 1133mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 47g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 20/06/2023

Tips to prepare the best beef masala

1. One useful tip for preparing beef masala is to use a pressure cooker/Instant Pot. This method can significantly reduce cooking time and help brown the meat due to the higher temperature when pressured cooking. Slow cooking does not cause browning.
2. Browning the beef during cooking adds an extra layer of flavor through a chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction. This reaction occurs when the beef is exposed to high heat, developing rich flavors that enhance the dish’s overall taste.
3. You can switch up your beef masala recipe by adding a touch of lemon zest during the final cooking stage. 
4. While I prefer yogurt, you can use coconut cream for a different taste. Please add coconut cream for cooking, not coconut milk for drinking.
5. I suggest doing a taste test to adjust the taste according to your preference. Besides adjusting the saltiness, add some ground cayenne pepper, garam masala, and ground cumin to enhance the flavor.

Beef masala is an easy beef curry best served with rice or naan bread.  Besides, it is freezer-friendly so you can prepare a larger batch and portion it for future consumption. The flavor will not noticeably deteriorate for up to a month.

Note: While beef is not commonly consumed in India, some Indian restaurants in various countries serve beef dishes. We found this particular beef recipe at an Indian restaurant during our stay in New Zealand and decided to share it. It’s worth noting that the restaurant offers a variety of meat options to cater to different preferences.

Related recipes for beef masala

I want to share some of my favorite recipes if you love spicy food. Here are my top picks:

1. Beef Rendang: This dish was the top seller on the menu at our former restaurant. It boasts a rich and deep savory flavor derived from the aromatic spices.
2. Sichuan Boiled Beef: Prepare for a fiery culinary experience. The beef is served with a flavorful broth and encompasses all the quintessential elements of Sichuan-style cuisine. Don’t miss out on trying it!
3. Malaysian-Style Easy Chicken Curry: Made with local spices and accompanied by potatoes, it is a staple in Malaysian households and will surely please your taste buds.