Beef Ularthiyathu/ Kerala Beef Roast (Buffalo Meat Roast)

Beef Ularthiyathu (Buffalo Meat Roast) or Kerala Beef Roast is a much devoured dish in Kerala and there are different styles of making it. For most of the Keralites, Sunday lunch is incomplete without Kerala Beef Ularthiyathu or Erachi ularthiyathu/ Beef Pepper fry or spicy beef curry in their menu. Our home was no exception, although I have restricted red meat intake these  days. Nadan Beef Fry, Pork Pepper Fry, Mutton Roast etc. are all so tempting that once in a while indulging is fine, right??  After all, we only live once!! Sometimes I add some vegetables to Beef curry to make it healthier like Beef Kaya Ularthiyathu, Beef with beetroot curry, Veal/ Kerala Beef stew, Beef with Mushrooms, Beef Koorkka Ularthiyathu, Kerala special Kappa Biriyani etc. There are no dearth of Beef Roast recipes in Kerala. It is known by many names such as Kerala beef roast,Irachi ularthiyathu, Pothu Ularthiyathu with Thengakoth, Kerala Beef Roast, Pothirachi ularthiyathu, Beef Puralan, Beef Fry with coconut pieces etc. The recipe and preparation differs from region to region, but the result is always mouth watering!

My Mummy (my MIL) is a great cook and she makes exotic meat dishes always. I have added so many of her recipes like KuttanadanTharavu Roast, Alleppey Fish curry, Kakka irachi ularthiyathu, Nadan Chicken Curry etc. Well, having said that, let me tell you, she does not follow a fixed recipe like us. It is always straight from the container, and the quantity of spices differ each time, but the outcome is always super fantastic. I wanted to share this Kuttanadan Beef Ularthiyathu / Beef Olarthiyathu recipe that I have managed to amass after watching her cook Beef Ularthiyathu for years, but still, if you compare I am nowhere near her magic.

One thing I have observed from Alleppey style of cooking is that the spices are freshly ground for each dish. They have a unique way of celebrating each dish, be it Kakka Irachi, Karimeen, Kuttanadan Beef Ularthiyathu, Chemmeen Ularthiyathu, Crab Roast, Beef curry, Fish, Duck or Squid. Jibu’s granny was also a great cook, so she has got it in her blood. I have managed to follow her style and method and since my hubby does not complain, I assume I have become better. 🙂 Well, without much ado, I welcome you all to Mummy’s Special Beef Ularthiyathu recipe. I am having special lunch today with Kerala Beef roast, Koorkka Ularthiyathu, Padavalanga Thoran and Kumbalanga Pulissery. Wanna Join???

Ingredients for Kerala Beef Roast:

Method :

Wash and clean Beef and keep for draining water. Slice onions, slit green chillies and chop Ginger. Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add Coconut slices and fry. Drain and keep aside. In the same oil, add whole garlic cloves (if too big, cut into halves), Once it slightly changes colour, add chopped ginger. Then add green chillies and curry leaves and sauté. Add Onions and stir fry for some time till it gets soft.

Now, add the Coriander, Chilly, pepper (2 tsp), turmeric, perumjeerah and garam masala powders (2 tsp) and fry till the raw smell goes. Chop the Tomato  finely and add to the masala. Next, add the meat pieces and salt and combine well. Mix in the fried coconut pieces. Cover and pressure cook for 7 minutes on low flame after first whistle (Please adjust/change as per your pressure cooker/ beef).

Once cooked keep on high flame to dry the excess water in the gravy. Stir in between, and let the gravy coat the meat pieces. Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a kadai and add curry leaves and sliced small onions (sliced green chilies also if you like it spicier). Fry till slightly brown. Put ½ tsp pepper, a pinch of turmeric, 1/2 tsp Garam Masala, Cardamom powder and more curry leaves to oil and add the cooked meat pieces. Stir well and roast the beef for some time, stirring in between. Allow it to cool for some time. And roast again. The meat should turn a dark black colour with the spices coated perfectly to the pieces. Your Beef Ularthiyathu is ready. Yum.. Yum!! It is sinfully tempting..

Tips:

• No water is required while cooking.
• You can add more coconut slices (Thengakothu) as per your taste.
• Please check the link for Garam Masala. 
• Adjust the Chilly/ Pepper powders as per your spice level (I have added Green Chilly as well, so be careful if you don’t want it too spicy).
• Buffalo meat should have sufficient amount of fat.
• Coconut oil is best for Kerala style Beef Fry. Other oils won’t give the same authentic taste of Kerala Style Beef Ularthiyathu.
• Kerala Beef Ularthiyathu goes well with Rice and is a great lunch/ dinner item.

Have an exotic lunch with Beef Ularthiyathu, Papaya Thoran, Pavakka Varuthathu, Kalan. Even if that means extra 15 mts in the gym. 🙂  God Bless!!