Goan Beef Pea Stew

My boys are so fond of beef and they love pasta. So I have to keep coming up with ways to please their hungry tummies. The Goan Beef Pea Stew is one dish that they like and it’s a one pot meal. Beef is rich in iron and vitamin B12 and I encourage them to feast on it.

Serves: 6 Persons

Prep. Time: 20 Mins. + 2 Hours (marination)

Cooking Time: 50 Mins. (active + passive)

Ingredients:

• Beef (boneless, cubed) – 750 gms
• Pasta [Mezzi Gomiti / Elbow Pasta] – 1 ½ cups (uncooked)
• Peas (frozen) – ¼ cup
• Onions (finely chopped) – 3 medium
• Tomato (finely chopped) – 1 large
• Ginger – ½ inch
• Garlic – 8 cloves
• Light Green Chillies – 6 or less
• Black Pepper Corns – 10 to 12
• Cinnamon – ½ inch
• Cloves – 6
• Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp.
• Stock Cube (Veg.) – 1 small (optional)
• Coconut (Palm) Vinegar – 2 tbsp.
• Butter – 2 tbsp.
• Oil – 2 tbsp. + 2 tsp.
• Salt – 1 tsp.
• Sea Salt – 2 tsp.

Step 1:     Wash and drain the cubed meat. Apply 1 tsp. salt and leave aside for an hour.

Step 2:     Grind the ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, pepper corns, turmeric powder, vinegar and green chillies to a fine paste. Marinate the meat with this paste for another hour.

Step 3:     Later, heat 2 tbsp. oil in a pressure cooker / pan and sauté the onions till soft on medium heat. Add the tomatoes and sauté till soft.

Step 4:     Add the marinated meat and sauté for 5 minutes on high heat. Lower the heat and cook uncovered for 10 minutes till the juices are released.

Step 5:     Add 250 ml hot water, the crushed stock cube and put on the lid of the pressure cooker. Cook on high heat till the 1^st whistle. Then cook further for 20 to 30 minutes on low heat. Later switch off the heat and leave unopened for the pressure to drop naturally. (cooking time may vary according to the cut of meat).

Step 6:     Boil 2 litres water in a big vessel. When the water starts boiling add the pasta, 2 tsp. sea salt and 2 tsp. oil. Cook till the pasta is almost done. Add the peas and cook for another 2 minutes.

Step 7:     Strain the macaroni and peas.

Step 8: Open the lid of the pressure cooker and switch on the heat. Add the pasta and peas to the cooked meat. Add the butter and mix well gently. Cook for 5 minutes on low heat.

Step 9: Cover and switch off heat (The pasta will absorb the remaining juices). Serve hot with some bread (see here).

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