Slow Cooked Beef Madras

I think this is a Madras, I based it loosely on a Madras recipe, so fingers crossed. Curry night is always one of the best nights, in my opinion. My mass-beer swigging days may be behind me but tonight we discovered curry pairs rather well with very expensive white wine too, or that's what I am telling myself.

It is so easy to make curry from scratch, we should all be doing it really. It can take longer, and this recipe definitely is not quick but a few basics in the larder and you are good to go, and the end results are definitely better (granted I have had to practice.. but more curry for me!)

Ingredients. Serves 4

500g Beef. Diced into cubes

3 Dried Chillies

1tsp Mustard Seeds

1tsp Cumin Seeds

1tsp Turmeric

1tsp Garam Masala

2tsp Curry Powder

1 Onion, chopped into chunks

3 Fat Garlic Cloves, crushed

Fresh Ginger Root, a thumb sized piece, peeled and sliced

500g Passata

1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes

1tbsp Tomato Pureé

4tbsp Crème Fraîche

Olive Oil / Salt / Pepper

Method

1. Set the oven to 175 degree fan

2. In a large, oven proof pan with a lid, heat a slug of olive oil and brown the chunks of beef. You are looking for a nice colour but still rare in the middle. Remove from the pan and set aside

3. Put all the dry spices into your pestle and mortar and grind with a pinch of sea salt. Add this to the pan, return to stove and gently heat for a few minutes

4. Add the chopped onion, crushed garlic and sliced ginger with more oil and cook for 5 minutes, if the mixture is looking a little dry, add a dash of the passata

5. Pour the tomatoes, rest of the passata and paste into the pan and cook for another 5 minutes stirring to combine everything

6. Add the beef back to the pan. Stir

7. Put the pan, with the lid on, in the oven. I found I had to leave the lid at a jaunty angle to let the steam out. Leave for 1 hour 45 minutes. Relax. Have a cocktail.

8. 10 minutes before the end, stir in the Crème Fraîche and return to the oven

9. Serve with Wild Red Rice and mango chutney, its delicious!