Ingredients:
8 tablespoons vegetable
oil
20 whole black
peppercorns
6 whole cloves
2 whole bay leaves
6 whole cardamom pods
2 medium onions --
chopped fine
6 garlic cloves --
chopped fine
1 ginger root - (1"
cube) -- chopped fine
2 pounds beef -- cut 1"
cubes
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1/2 teaspoon cayenne --
(optional)
1 teaspoon ground
coriander seed
2 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons yogurt --
beaten
2 pounds chopped spinach
-- fresh or frozen
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
-- (recipe follows)
Garam Masala
1 teaspoon cardamom --
(seeds only)
1/2 cup whole black
peppercorns
1/3 cup cumin seed
1/4 cup coriander seed
3 cinnamon sticks - (3"
long)
6 whole cloves
Method:
1-Put the ginger,
onions, and garlic into
a blender container, and
blend to a paste, adding
a tablespoon of water if
necessary. Set aside.
Put the peppercorns,
cloves, bay leaves, and
cardamom pods in one
bowl. Put the ground
cumin, ground coriander,
cayenne and 1 teaspoon
of the salt in another
bowl.
Put the yogurt into
another bowl. Wash and
chop and drain the fresh
spinach, have it ready
to add into the dish.
(Or defrost the frozen
spinach.)
Put the remaining
teaspoon of salt into
another bowl.
Now, heat the vegetable
oil in a large Dutch
oven.
When hot, put in the
peppercorns, cloves, bay
leaves and cardamom
pods.
Stir for a second. Now
put in the onions,
garlic, and ginger.
Stir and fry until the
paste starts to develop
brown specks.
Add the ground cumin,
ground coriander,
cayenne and 1 teaspoon
of the salt. Stir
together, then add the
meat.
Stir and fry for a
minute.
2-Next, add the yogurt 1
teaspoon at a time,
until the yogurt has
been mixed throroughly
with the other
ingredients. Keep on
frying until the meat
has a slightly browned
look.
Add the spinach, bit by
bit, stirring in more as
the spinach in the pan
wilts.
Keep stirring and
cooking until the
spinach wilts
completely. It should
give up its juices, to
cook the meat.
Now, put the entire
mixture in the crockpot,
and allow to simmer for
6 to 8 hours on HIGH or
8 to 10 hours on LOW,
until meat is tender.
When done, sprinkle the
garam masala over the
meat, and stir in, then
simmer for about 5
minutes longer. If there
is too much liquid,
simmer uncovered for 5
to 10 minutes until
sauce is thicker.
This is good over rice
or noodles.
3-For the Garam Masala:
Combine all ingredients
and grind very fine,
using a blender or a
coffee grinder.
Store unused portion in
a tightly closed
container with other
spices.