Caril de Carne de Vaca com Mandioca
A hearty and flavorful beef curry cooked with cassava (mandioca) and a rich blend of spices, reflecting Portuguese and Indian influences in Mozambican cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Beef(stewing cuts, cubed)
- 500 g Cassava (Mandioca)(peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 5 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 400 g Tomatoes(canned chopped, or fresh ripe tomatoes)
- 400 ml Coconut milk(full fat)
- 2 tbsp Curry powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 0.5 tsp Chili powder(or to taste)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- to taste Salt
- for garnish Fresh cilantro
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 2
Add minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant.
- 4
Add the cubed beef to the pot and brown it on all sides. Season with salt.
- 5
Pour in the chopped tomatoes and stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- 6
Add the cassava pieces to the pot. Pour in the coconut milk and enough water to just cover the ingredients. Bring to a simmer.
- 7
Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for at least 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the beef is tender and the cassava is cooked through. Stir occasionally, adding more water if the curry becomes too dry.
- 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if needed. The sauce should have thickened nicely.
- 9
Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro. This curry is traditionally served with rice or xima.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the cassava is fully cooked and tender. If it's still firm, continue simmering.
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can brown the beef in batches before adding it back to the pot.
- ✓If you don't have fresh ginger, you can use 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
🔄 Variations
- Add other root vegetables like sweet potatoes or carrots along with the cassava.
- For a spicier curry, add more chili powder or a fresh chopped chili pepper.