Massaman Curry | Diethood

It doesn’t get higher than beef Massaman curry created from scratch! I slow-cook this wealthy, aromatic Thai curry with juicy beef chunks, potatoes, smoky chilies, and coconut milk till the meat is fall-apart-tender and the sauce is wealthy and flavorful.

This Massaman curry is perhaps a few of my finest work. It’s a wealthy, flavorful, Thai coconut curry brimming with fragrant spices, tender, fall-apart beef chunks, and smoky chili warmth that will get softened by the coconut milk. After all, in true Massaman model, I couldn’t neglect a sprinkle of crunchy roasted peanuts and cilantro for garnish. Piled over rice, it was love at first chew. This curry takes a little bit of time to make but it surely’s the right dish for a Sunday afternoon. The hassle is SO price it!

Why I Love This Curry Recipe

• All the flavour. Curry is among the first issues to return to thoughts once I consider BIG taste. This Massaman curry recipe has loads of it, infused in each saucy chew. It’s mildly spicy (however straightforward to adapt), savory-sweet, and crammed with umami. The meat and potatoes soak that each one up. Too good!
• Simple substances. My home made Massaman curry paste makes use of plenty of pantry spices you’ll acknowledge, plus a number of easy-to-find extras that almost all grocery shops have within the worldwide meals aisle. I wished a recipe that recreated the daring flavors I like with out going wild with unique substances.
• Low and gradual. There’s some prep concerned in making the curry paste and getting the substances cubed, chopped, and diced, however this recipe turns into fairly hands-off as soon as the cooking begins. I prepare dinner this low and gradual to deliver out all the flavour, so many of the work will get left to my stovetop.

What Goes In Massaman Curry?

Massaman curry is a aromatic, wealthy, and barely spicy mash-up of Thai and Indian-style curries, so the substances mirror a bit little bit of each. It makes use of widespread Indian spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves, with Malay influences within the Thai red-style curry paste.

Beneath is an summary of the substances on this Massaman curry with some notes and substitutions. You should definitely scroll to the recipe card for a printable record with the quantities.

Massaman Curry Paste

• Spices – You’ll want floor cumin, white pepper (or black pepper in a pinch), ginger, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. 
• Chilies – I exploit Fresno chilies since they’re straightforward to search out within the US. Good substitutes for Fresno chilies are jalapeño or chipotle peppers, which each have the smokiness we’re after. I like to recommend seeding the peppers to take the warmth off a bit.
• Lemongrass Paste – You’ll discover this within the worldwide meals aisle close to different Asian cooking substances. Recent lemongrass is sort of powerful, but when you could find some, you’ll be able to grind it right into a paste your self.
• Garlic – Recent cloves, please!
• Crimson Onion – One other gentle onion will even work right here, like yellow onion or candy Vidalia onion. Cube it up finely.
• Cilantro – Simply the stems! Cilantro stems add texture, plus they’re packed filled with taste. Should you don’t have cilantro, parsley stems or Thai basil stems will work, too.
• Miso Paste – Additionally discovered within the worldwide meals aisle. Miso is a thick paste created from fermented soybeans. It’s the key to a great deal of umami taste in recipes like my Japanese pork katsu.
• Brown Sugar – Granulated sugar or one other sweetener, like honey or agave, would work right here, too.
• Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice is finest, however bottled is okay in a pinch.

Curry Components

• Beef Chuck – Lower into cubes. Different good slow-cooking cuts for curry are beef shanks (like what you’d use for osso buco), tri-tip, or brief ribs. 
• Cornstarch – We’re going to “velvet” the meat cubes earlier than we prepare dinner them. Velveting means coating the meat in cornstarch, which helps tenderize the meat. It’s a simple trick utilized by Asian eating places that makes the meat on this curry further juicy and tender.
• Vegetable Oil – Canola oil or avocado oil are good selections.
• Coconut Milk – You’ll wish to use a can of full-fat coconut milk, or coconut cream, which can yield a thicker curry. Simply just remember to don’t purchase cream of coconut, which is VERY candy and received’t work right here.
• Onion – Thinly sliced.
• Potatoes – I like a small, tender selection, like child gold potatoes. I’d suggest any potato that’s waxy, and never starchy.
• Peanuts – Roasted peanuts are a signature ingredient in Massaman curries. They add further richness and scrumptious crunch! Clearly, be happy to skip them in the event you’re nut-free.

Methods to Make Massaman Curry Paste

The bottom of many curries begins with a aromatic paste made by mixing spices and aromatics. When you’ve gathered your substances, the paste comes collectively shortly within the blender:

• Mix. Add all your curry paste substances to a blender or meals processor. Should you’re old-fashioned, it’s also possible to get out your pestle and mortar for this.
• Mix. Mix or grind the substances to type a easy paste. If the combination wants a bit assist coming collectively, you’ll be able to add a spoonful of water as wanted.

You may also make this Massaman curry with store-bought curry paste. It received’t have fairly the identical freshness and taste, but it surely’ll do in a pinch. Seek advice from the instructions on the package deal in case that you must add your store-bought paste at a distinct level within the cooking course of.

Making the Massaman Curry 

Are you drooling but? As a result of I’m. Along with your curry paste set to go, it’s time to get this curry saucy and simmering. Comply with the steps right here, and scroll to the printable recipe card for particulars.

• Make the curry paste. See above. I typically double the recipe and retailer the extras in a tight-lidded jar. Do-it-yourself curry paste lasts as much as 4 weeks within the fridge, or 3 months within the freezer!
• Put together the meat. In the meantime, you’ll velvet the meat in a bowl with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Afterward, sear the meat cubes over medium-high warmth till they’re good and caramelized.
• Mix and prepare dinner. Add your coconut milk, curry paste, and beef broth to the pot and provides {that a} good stir. Decrease the warmth and add the onion. Then, let the curry simmer, coated, for two hours.
• Add the potatoes. Lastly, add your potatoes within the final 25 minutes in order that they’ll prepare dinner by means of. 
• Serve. Serve your heat and aromatic Massaman curry over rice topped with peanuts and recent cilantro. See under for extra concepts.

What to Serve With Curry

My favourite option to serve Massaman curry is over a mattress of white rice or cumin rice to take in the flavors within the sauce. After all, no curry dinner is full with out fluffy naan bread for a similar purpose! 

This home made curry can be scrumptious with vegetable biryani rice, which works nicely as a starter, too, with rooster satay on the aspect. And if I’m on the lookout for extra methods to spherical out a meal, I’ll make a batch of savory samosas or Indian samosa chaat (an Indian-style snack platter).

Storage and Reheating

• Refrigerate. Retailer the cooled leftover curry in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• Reheat. Heat the Massaman curry in a saucepan on the range over medium warmth. I a lot choose it to the microwave, as the meat is much less prone to flip rubbery.
• Freeze. You’ll be able to freeze leftover curry for as much as 3 months. Wait till it’s cool after which freeze it in an hermetic container. Thaw the curry within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Extra Curry Recipes to Attempt