This Best Bangladeshi Beef Curry Recipe | Rich, Tender, and Unforgettable

Bangladeshi cuisine carries centuries of history — a fusion born from Mughal elegance, river-rich abundance, and a deep love for slow-cooked meals that bring families together. Our beef curries aren’t just about heat or heavy spices, they’re about balance. Every spice has a purpose, and every step builds layers of flavor that tell a story.

This 3-kilo beef curry is the perfect example of that tradition — a dish made for family and friends, rich yet delicate, slow-cooked until the meat turns buttery soft. You get that burst of flavor in every bite — the warmth of cinnamon, the depth of cloves, and the mellow sweetness of fried onions and ghee — all working together without overpowering the natural taste of beef.

What makes Bangladeshi beef curries stand apart is restraint. There’s no overuse of garam masala or heavy chili, just perfectly paired spices that allow the true essence of the meat to shine. It’s comforting, celebratory, and deeply soulful — a reminder that the best food isn’t rushed, it’s crafted with patience and heart.

Savory bowl of rich, aromatic curry with tender meat pieces, garnished with green chilies and fried onions, ready to be enjoyed with a side of fluffy white rice.

Ingredients

For the curry:

• Cooking oil – 1 cup

• Bay leaves – 2

• Green cardamom – 4 pods

• Cinnamon sticks – 2 small (or 1 large broken in half)

• Red onion – 2 cups, thinly sliced

• Garlic paste – 2 tbsp

• Ginger paste – 2 tbsp

• Red chili powder – 2 tsp (optional: add 1 tsp Kashmiri chili for color)

• Turmeric -1 tsp

• Salt – 1 tsp + more to taste

• White pepper – 6–7

• Black pepper – 7

• Cloves – 4

• Beef or veal with bone – 3 kg

• Mustard oil – 3 tbsp

• Plain yogurt – 2 tbsp

• Hot water – 2 cups (plus more as needed)

For the special masala:

• Garam masala or kabab masala – 2 tsp

• White pepper powder – 1 tsp

• Roasted cumin powder – 1 tsp

• Ghee – 2 tbsp

• Raisins – 1 tbsp

• Dried plums (alubukhara) – 6

• Milk powder – 2 tbsp

• Fried onions (beresta) – 3–4 tbsp

• Ketchup or tomato sauce – 1 tsp

• Nut paste – 1½ tbsp (blend 4 cashews, 6 peanuts, and 5 almonds)

• Green chilies – 6–7

Method

1. Start with the base:In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add bay leaves, cardamom, and cinnamon, then immediately add the sliced onions. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until the onions soften and turn translucent (don’t let them brown).

2. Build the flavor:Add a splash of water to prevent sticking, then stir in garlic and ginger paste. Cook gently for about 40–60 seconds until the raw aroma disappears.

3. Add the spice blend:Stir in red chili powder (and Kashmiri chili if using), Turmeric powder. Cook over medium heat until the oil starts to separate and the onion mixture looks silky and rich. Add 1 tsp salt, white pepper, black pepper, and cloves. Mix well.

4. Sear the meat:Add the beef or veal pieces. Sauté on medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes, allowing the meat to absorb the spices.

5. Create depth:Stir in mustard oil and yogurt, coating the meat evenly. Add another pinch of salt, then pour in 2 cups of hot water. Cover and cook on low heat for 50–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is soft and tender.

6. Make the special masala:In a bowl, combine garam masala, white pepper powder, roasted cumin, ghee, raisins, alubukhara, milk powder, fried onions, and ketchup. Mix into a thick, fragrant paste.

7. Bring it all together:Uncover the curry and stir in the special masala mix. Add the nut paste, green chilies, and a bit of hot water to adjust consistency. Cover and cook on the lowest heat (dum) for another 15 minutes.

8. Finish strong:Once the oil rises beautifully to the surface, taste and adjust salt. The gravy should be rich, balanced, and bursting with aroma.

To Serve

Serve this slow-cooked curry with steaming rice, pulao, or paratha. It’s comfort food on a grand scale — deeply spiced, perfectly balanced, and unmistakably Bangladeshi.