World Flavors Cookbook

Massaman Curry (Persian-Inspired Beef Curry)

A rich, relatively mild Thai curry that is an outlier in Thai cuisine, featuring warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom, combined with peanuts and potatoes.

Cuisine: Thailand

Ingredients

• 500g beef chuck, cubed
• 400ml coconut milk
• 3 tbsp Massaman curry paste
• 2 large potatoes, cubed
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
• 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 cardamom pods
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp palm sugar
• 1 tbsp tamarind paste

Instructions

1. Simmer beef in half the coconut milk and some water until tender (about 1 hour).
2. In another pot, fry curry paste in the thick "cream" from the top of the coconut milk.
3. Add the beef, remaining coconut milk, potatoes, onion, peanuts, and whole spices.
4. Season with fish sauce, palm sugar, and tamarind.
5. Simmer until potatoes are tender and sauce is thick and oily.
6. Serve with jasmine rice.