Mild Japanese-style Beef Curry

300 g (10 oz) beef rump or round steak, cubed

100 g (3½ oz) pork belly or leg, cubed

3 tablespoons tomato paste

4 tablespoons mild curry powder

3 tablespoons oil

1 medium yellow or brown onion, coarsely grated (about ¾ cup)

1 small carrot, grated (about ⅔ cup)

½ green apple, grated (about ½ cup)

500 ml (2 cups) beef stock

250 ml (1 cup) water

125 ml (½ cup) coconut milk or milk

1–2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter (optional, see note)

1 tablespoon butter

Salt to taste

4 cups freshly cooked Japanese rice

 

1 Place the beef, pork, tomato paste, curry powder and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium bowl and toss to combine.

2 Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; fry onion and carrot for 3 minutes or until tender. Add apple and continue to cook for 1 minute.

3 Increase heat to high, add meat to pan and cook for 2 minutes or until spice paste is fragrant.

4 Add beef stock, water and coconut milk or milk and cook half covered for 1–1½ hours on moderate heat, or until meat is tender. Stir frequently to make sure the curry doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

5 Stir in peanut butter and butter; add salt to taste and allow to stand 10 minutes before serving on dinner plates with rice.

Peanut butter is added to this curry to subdue the heat of the curry powder and to give the sauce some body. It is optional so omit it if you wish. For a spicier curry, add 1 tablespoon of spicy chilli powder.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 mins

Cooking time: 1 hour 40 mins