Sylheti Beef Curry

Ingredients

• ½ hatxora (Citrus macroptera|citrus macroptera)
• 500 g beef, cut into cubes
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp chile powder (adjust to taste)
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 green Indian chiles, slit
• 2 bay leaves
• 4–5 cloves
• 4–5 green cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Method

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
2. Add the cloves, green cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves. Sauté for a minute until fragrant.
3. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
4. Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté for another 2 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
5. Add the beef cubes and cook until they are browned on all sides.
6. Stir in the cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and chili powder. Cook for a couple of minutes to toast the spices.
7. Add the hatxora, chopped tomatoes and green chilies. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and the oil starts to separate from the mixture.
8. Pour in enough water to cover the beef, season with salt, and bring to a boil.
9. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the curry simmer for about 1.5–2 hours or until the beef is tender and the flavors meld.
10. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with steamed rice.