Kerala beef fry (ularthu)

Slice 1/2 kilo beef into small square cubes.

Wash well.

Pressure-cook the beef with some garam masala powder (1 tsp), chilli powder (1 tsp), coriander powder (2 tsp), turmeric powder (1/2 tsp), ginger-garlic paste or chopped fine (1 tsp), salt (as required) and button onions (10-15).

There is no need to add any extra water because the water from the washed beef is enough (but to tell the truth, I add a little as I dont want to burn the cooker and the safety valve).

Slice coconut pieces (after you take a few pieces of coconut off the shell using a knife). Back in Kerala, we call these crescent-shaped bigger slices thengapool and the smaller ones thengakothu.

Fry the coconut chips in a tablespoon of oil and keep aside. These are meant for embellishment and taste....

Chop 2 onions longish.

Season the sliced onion in 2-3 tbsp of oil. Add chopped ginger and garlic (say a teaspoon each), and curry leaves (2 twigs). Add, again, 1 tsp each of coriander powder, chilli powder, pepper powder and garam masala. You can add a couple of green chillis cut in half if it is not hot enough.

Add the cooked beef to it and keep on fire until the water is completely drained. Add the fried coconut chips too so that it gets a little cooked along with the onions in the stock.

Pour more oil to get a proper fry. If you like it with some gravy/masala, dont dry/fry it too much.

p.s. My cooking is generally a less oil, less fat kind, so you could add a little more oil and more coconut chips if you dont have to worry too much about certain health issues!