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beef paya in a bowl

Beef Paya Recipe

Beef paya is a delightful and flavorful dish that has captured the hearts of food lovers around the world. Its rich curry, tender meat, and aromatic spices make it a true culinary delight. Whether enjoyed with naan bread or steamed rice, beef paya is a dish that brings satisfaction and comfort to every bite.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Indian, Pakistani
Servings 10 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 kg beef trotters (paya) medium-sized pieces
  • 1.5 kg onion chopped or sliced
  • 50 grams garlic cloves peeled
  • 3 liters water

Ground Spices

  • 1 tbsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbsp salt or to taste

Whole Spices

  • 1 tsp black cumin seeds
  • 2 qty black cardamom pods
  • 4-5 cinnamon sticks
  • 5-6 qty cloves
  • 1 tsp black pepper

For Tempering

  • 4 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 tbsp black cumin seeds
  • 3-4 qty fresh green chilies sliced

For Garnishing

  • fresh leaves of coriander or cilantro chopped
  • ginger julienned
  • lemon wedges

Instructions
 

Preparing the Beef Paya

  • Buy fresh trotters from the market and get them cut into medium-sized pieces. To clean the beef trotters at home, trim off excess fat and hair, if any.
    Wash them thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or impurities. Next, Put the pieces of beef trotters (paya) in a pressure cooker.
    beef paya pieces in a pressure cooker

Tenderizing the Paya

  • Add sliced onions and garlic cloves.
    sliced onion and garlic cloves in the pressure cooker
  • Gather all the spices. Red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, black cumin seeds, black cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves, black pepper, and salt.
  • Add all the spices to the cooker.
    adding all the seasoning spices to the beef trotters
  • Next, add 3 liters of water to cover the trotters. Close the pressure cooker with its lid.
    pouring water into the cooker to cover the trotters completely
  • I cooked the beef trotters by simmering them on a woodfire (campfire) and it took 3 hours to tenderize the paya.
    If you are cooking on a stovetop please see the note below for timing.
  • After 3 hours, turn off the heat. Allow for a natural release of pressure.
    Once the pressure is released from the cooker, carefully open the lid and check the tenderness of the beef paya. It should be soft and succulent. If needed, you can cook it for a few more minutes until desired tenderness is achieved.
    checking the tenderness of beef trotters after 3 hours

Cooking the Paya Curry

  • Once the trotters are tender, check the consistency of the curry. If it's too thin, you can continue cooking uncovered until it thickens slightly. If it's too thick, add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
    Taste the curry and adjust the seasoning according to your preference. Add more salt or spices, if needed.
    If you add extra spices, simmer the curry for an additional 5-10 minutes on low heat to allow the flavors to develop further.
    checking the consistency of the beef paya curry

Prepare the Tempering

  • In a small pan, heat 4 tablespoons of cooking oil. Keep the flame low. Add 1 tbsp black cumin and sauté until they turn golden brown. Next, add 3-4 sliced green chilies and sauté slightly.
    preparing the tempering in a frying pan
  • Now pour the prepared tempering over the paya gravy. This will add an extra kick of flavor to the beef paya. You’ll also feel an amazing fragrance.
    Then, pour some curry into the frying pan and mix the remaining tempering and then pour it back into the pressure cooker. Do this process quickly.
    Next, immediately cover the pressure cooker for 2-3 minutes so that the fragrance of tempering may infuse well into the paya curry.
    Now, remove the lid of the pressure cooker and mix the curry well. Garnish it and serve.
    pouring the prepared tempering into the beef paya curry

Garnishing and Serving

  • Once the beef paya curry is ready, you can garnish it with freshly chopped coriander leaves and julienned ginger for added freshness and aroma.
    Serve the beef paya hot in bowls. You can also squeeze some lemon juice over the curry for an extra tangy flavor. Enjoy with naan, roti, or steamed rice.

Video

Notes

  1. If you are cooking on a stovetop in a pressure cooker, first cook on high heat until you hear the first whistle. Once the whistle is heard, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, allowing the beef paya to tenderize and the flavors to develop.
  2. If using a regular pot, cover it and simmer for 2-3 hours on low heat until the trotters are soft and the flavors have melded together.
  3. After the specified time, turn off the heat. Allow for a natural release of pressure. Carefully open the lid once the pressure is released from the cooker and check the tenderness of the beef paya. If needed, you can cook it for a few more minutes until desired tenderness is achieved.
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