Many people love tasty, spicy food, and beef kala bhuna holds a special place on that list. With thick spices, slowly fried meat and a dark gravy, the dish goes well with rice or pulao. It can be made at home without much trouble; with a few simple ingredients and the right method, you can cook this popular restaurant-style dish. Here is the recipe.

First wash the beef well and drain it. Put the meat in a bowl and mix it well with all the spices except the chopped onion, fried onion, green chillies, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves and oil, and leave it to rest for 10 minutes. Then add half a cup of mustard oil and mix well again.

Meanwhile, heat half a cup of mustard oil in a pan on the stove. When the oil is hot, lightly fry the chopped onion, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaves until fragrant. Then add the spiced meat and cook on a medium flame. Stir a little and cover the pan with a lid.

It is best not to add water separately while cooking this meat, as that keeps the flavour intact, though a little hot water can be added if needed. Cook until the meat is tender, stirring now and then. When you see oil floating on top of the meat, the bhuna is nearly done. Add the green chillies, cover again and cook for 10 minutes.

Finally turn off the stove and sprinkle fried onion and fried garlic on top. Your delicious beef kala bhuna is ready.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.