Degchi
Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef)
Serves 8 · Total 110 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 90 min
A fiery, dark red beef curry from Chittagong, slow-cooked in a huge iron pot with a distinctive roasted whole-spice blend, traditionally served at Mezban feasts for hundreds of guests seated on the ground. Known for being much hotter than most Bangladeshi curries.
Quick answer: 110 min in total · serves 8 · main ingredients: Beef, Onion, Ginger, Garlic · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 1 kg 2.2 lb Beef, cut into large pieces with some bone
- 4 pc 4 pc Onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
- 10 pc 10 pc Whole red chilli, dry-roasted and ground
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Coriander powder, from dry-roasted coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Cumin seeds, dry-roasted and ground
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Turmeric
- 5 pc 5 pc Cardamom
- 2 pc 2 pc Cinnamon
- 2 pc 2 pc Bay leaf
- 6 tbsp 6 tbsp Cooking oil
- to taste to taste Salt
Steps
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- Dry-roast the whole red chillies, coriander seeds and cumin in a pan until fragrant, then grind to a coarse powder.⏱ Roasting and grinding spices · 4 min
- Heat the oil in a heavy pot; fry the sliced onion until golden brown.⏱ Frying the onions · 8 min
- Add the ginger-garlic paste, the roasted spice powder, turmeric and whole garam masala; fry for 2 minutes.⏱ Cooking the masala · 2 min
- Add the beef pieces and salt; cook uncovered on high heat, stirring, until the meat is well browned and coated.⏱ Browning the beef · 10 min
- Add hot water to just cover the meat; cover and cook on low heat for a long time until the beef is very tender.⏱ Slow-cooking the beef · 75 min
- Uncover and cook on high heat for the last few minutes until the gravy thickens to a deep red-brown.⏱ Finishing · 5 min
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef) take?
110 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 90 minutes of cooking.
Is Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef) hard to make?
Degchi rates it hard. The method has 6 steps, and 6 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef) serve?
This recipe serves 8. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef) halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It contains beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef)?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: whole red chilli, coriander powder, cumin seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: beef, onion, ginger, garlic.
Any tips for making Mezbani Beef (Chittagong Feast Beef)?
Mezbani beef is meant to be quite spicy — reduce the whole red chillies to 5-6 if cooking for people who prefer milder food.
Notes and questions
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