Hairy Bikers beef curry recipe

The Hairy Bikers beef curry is under 450 calories per portion and serves four but it’s easy to scale up for more. 

In three simple steps you’ll have a classic, hearty beef curry on the table for everyone to tuck into. Si and Dave start by browning the beef in ghee but you can use oil if you prefer. Once everything is in the pan it simmers for around 90 minutes but on a low heat you could leave it for longer if you want. 

Ingredients

• 120ml ghee or vegetable oil
• 400g braising steak, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 3 cloves
• 3 cardamom pods (optional)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 200g canned tomatoes
• 125ml natural yoghurt
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• pinch of sugar

Method

1. Heat a frying pan and add the ghee or oil. Brown the meat until sealed on all sides, then take it out of the pan and set aside.
2. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and fry until soft but not browned. Add all the spices and fry for 1 minute, no longer.
3. Put the beef back in the pan with the tomatoes and bring to the boil. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the yoghurt and vinegar, then season with the salt and sugar. Place back on the heat, bring back to the boil and simmer for at least 1½ hours until the meat is tender.

Top tips for making the Hairy Bikers beef curry

When it comes to the spiciness of your curry, Si and Dave say: “Remember - you can always add more heat but you can’t take it out! Long and plump chillies are interchangeable - use whichever you have.” This recipe only uses dried chilli but you could serve with fresh for an extra kick. 

Jessica Ransom

“Whenever I make a curry I make a little yogurt dip to serve alongside, even if the curry isn’t spicy, I think it adds an extra hit of flavour. I usually go for a mix of natural yogurt, a dash of mint sauce and some grated cucumber but a dollop of plain yogurt will do nicely too.”

Mums Still Know Best: The Hairy Bikers' Best-Loved Recipes by Si King and Dave Myers (Orion, £24.99) - View at Amazon

Celebrating the best of British home cooking is one of Si and Dave’s favourite things to do and this book is brimming with tasty inspiration. Browse recipes such as a classic cheese pie and a ‘rumpy-pumpy soup’ as well as hearty samosas and some tempting sweet treats too. 

If you like this recipe then you should also try the Hairy Bikers' chicken curry. For something hearty and comforting the Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie is a classic choice but for something different altogether, try Wagamama’s katsu curry recipe.