Beef Curry with Toasted Spices

You can also prepare this recipe with cubed leg of lamb. Fenugreek seed is a common spice in Indian food. Find it at an ethnic grocery such as World Market, or order online at www.americanspice.com.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Ingredients

• Beef:
• 1  tablespoon  Homemade Curry Powder
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  salt
• 2  teaspoons  freshly ground black pepper
• 3 1/2  pounds  beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 
  Toasted spices:
• 2  tablespoons  coriander seeds
• 1  tablespoon  cumin seeds
• 2  teaspoons  fenugreek seeds
• 3  whole cloves
• 1  (1-inch) cinnamon stick, broken
• 2  dried hot red chiles
• 3  bay leaves
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cardamom
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 
  Remaining ingredients:
• 1  tablespoon  olive oil, divided
• 3  cups  vertically sliced onion
• 3  tablespoons  minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1/4  cup  minced garlic
• 2  tablespoons  Hungarian sweet paprika
• 2  cups  plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 1/2  cups  low-salt beef broth
• 1  cup  chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2  cup  minced fresh cilantro stems
• 1/2  cup  tomato puree

Preparation

To prepare beef, combine first 3 ingredients; rub evenly over beef. Cover and chill 2 hours, tossing occasionally.

To prepare toasted spices, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add coriander and next 6 ingredients (coriander through bay leaves); cook 1 minute or until fragrant, shaking pan constantly. Place coriander mixture, sugar, cardamom, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a spice or coffee grinder, and process until finely ground.

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half of beef mixture; sauté 5 minutes or until browned on all sides. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and beef mixture; remove from pan. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and ginger to pan; cook 6 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Add the toasted spice mixture, garlic, and paprika; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add beef, yogurt, and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the beef is tender.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

262 (38% from fat)

Fat:

11g (sat 3.9g,mono 5g,poly 0.5g)

Protein:

27.6g

Carbohydrate:

12.9g

Fiber:

2.1g

Cholesterol:

79mg

Iron:

4.1mg

Sodium:

440mg

Calcium:

118mg