Coconut-Braised Beef

Ingredients

  • 2 hot dried red chilies
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • Juice and zest of 2 limes, or 2 tablespoons rice or other mild vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons corn, grapeseed or other neutral oil
  • 1 ½ pounds beef, preferably chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups coconut milk (or 1 can, about 1 1/2 cups, plus 1/2 cup water)
  • Salt to taste (I did 1 tsp and added ½ tsp fish sauce)

Preparation

Put chilies, garlic, ginger, chili powder, lime juice and zest in bowl of a food processor, and process until everything is minced, or mince by hand and combine.

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a skillet that can later be covered. Add spice paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add beef, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and covered with sauce.

Instant Pot: Pour in coconut milk, cover and bring up to pressure.  Set for 15 minutes. Uncover and cook until sauce is very thick and caramel-colored, stirring frequently so it does not brown. Season to taste with salt, and serve with white rice.

Over Stove:  Pour in coconut milk, and bring mixture to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer, stirring only occasionally (but making sure mixture is simmering very slowly, with just a few bubbles at a time breaking the surface) until meat is extremely tender, at least an hour and possibly closer to 2. Uncover and cook until sauce is very thick and caramel-colored, stirring frequently so it does not brown. Season to taste with salt, and serve with white rice.

New York Times

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