VediIrachi (Hunted Meat) Preparation with Beef

I have not taken up hunting in case you are wondering:-) We just bought some beef to cook and HMom was interested in making it like they used to prepare hunted meat. In her childhood days her Dad – Paternal Great Gandfather to my kids – used to bring home meat from hunting trips to the backwaters. Mostly wild birds I think. We were all for making it this way. It does not need a lot of things to make it an extremely tasty concoction and therefore is assured of its place on our dining table.

In The Mix

Beef – 2 lbs

Fresh ground pepper powder – 1 tbsp

Whole dry red chilies – 9 to 10 torn lengthwise

Shallots - 2

Curry leaves -1 sprig

Turmeric - 1/4 tsp

Coriander - 1/2 tsp (optional)

That's it. I told you it can stand almost on its own. Didn't I?

How To Do

Cut beef into thin pieces and marinate with salt, lemon squeezed from a half and (2 tsp) pepper for a minimum of 2 hours. Cook the beef covered in a pan at first on hight heat and once water comes out on medium to low heat. No need to add water as water from the beef will be enough. Add 1 or 2 tbsp of water only if no water is forthcoming after a decent amount of waiting. Stir occasionally. Once cooked well, drain the juices and keep aside. Now fry the beef lightly in the pan it was cooked in. Add 2 of the torn chilies and some fresh curry leaves at this time.

In a separate pan heat oil, saute the sliced shallots and move a little to the side. Add rest of the chili, pepper powder and saute some. Add some curry leaves turmeric and coriander at this time and saute together. Add the meat, mix well, and add the juices set aside earlier. Dry well by frying in low heat. If there is a lot of juice, then start out at high heat and once the water subsides, turn to low heat. Do not cover during this time and also afterwards as the vapor on the lid will get onto the beef to render it less crisp. Towards the end make sure to remove from heat before it is entirely dried as the retained heat will continue the drying and we don't want the end product to be dried and shriveled up but slightly tender and crispy.

Er... only at this point I realised that I don't have any picture to go with this because I had deleted the ones I took. They didn't come out blogworthy. But, what is a food blog without a picture? So I have uploaded a rose from our garden till I get some pictures:-) I am planning to make some this week so it won't be long.

April 30:
I made it again yesterday and have uploaded the correct picture. I am leaving the rose here.