Curry de vita ca in Lahore / Lahore-style Beef Curry

Ingrediente / Ingredients:

• 60 ml ulei vegetal / 60 ml vegetable oil      
• 2 frunze de dafin / 2 bay leafs
• 2 cuisoare / 2 cloves
• 4 boabe piper negru / 4 black peppercorns
• 1 ceapa feliata / 1 onion, sliced
• 450 g carne vita dezosata, cubulete/ 450 g boneless beef, cubed
• ¼ lingurita curcuma / ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• 1 ½ praf de ardei iute rosu / 1 ½ chilli powder
• 1 lingurita seminte zdrobite de coriandru / 1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds
• 2.5 cm bat de scortisoara / 2.5 cm piece cinnamon stick
• 1 lingurita usturoi zdrobit / 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1 ½ lingurita sare / 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• 1.5  l apa / 1.5 l water
• 50 g mazare galbena uscata / 50 g yellow split peas
• 2 rosii (taiate in sferturi) / 2 tomatoes, quartered
• 2 ardei iuti verzi, tocati / 2 green chillies, chopped
• 1 lingura frunze proaspete de coriandru (tocate) / 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)

Mod de preparare / Method of preparation:

1. Se incinge uleiul intr-o tigaie wok sau o tigaie mare. Focul se da mai incet si se adauga frunzele de dafin, cuisoarele, boabele de piper si ceapa. Se distuie 5 minute sau pana cand ceapa capata o culoare aurie / Heat the oil in a wok or large pan. Lower the heat slightly and add the bay leafs, cloves, peppercorns and onion. Fry for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is golden.

2. Se adauga carnea de vita, turmeric, praful de ardei iute rosu, semintele de coriandru, batonul de scortisoara, usturoiul, sarea si se distuie/prajeste (stir fry) timp de 5 minute la foc mediu / Add the cubed beef, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander seeds, cinnamon stick, garlic and most of the salt, and stir fry for about 5 minutes over a medium heat.

3. Se toarna 900 ml de apa, se acopera cu capac si se fierbe timp de 35-40 de minute sau pana cand, carnea de vita este moale / Pour in 900 ml of the water and cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 35-40 minutes or until the beef is tender.

4. Se pune mazarea galbena uscata intr-o tigaie mare cu restul de apa, putina sare si se fierbe timp de 15 minute sau pana cand apa se evapora iar mazarea este destul de moale pentru a fi zdrobita / Put the yellow split peas into a large pan with the remaining measured water and a good pinch of salt and boil for 15 minutes, or until the water has almost evaporated and the peas is soft enough to be mashed.

5. Cand carnea de vita se inmoaie, se i-a capacul iar amestecul se lasa la prajit (stir fry) folosind o lingura de lemn pana cand uleiul se va ridica pe marginile tigaii / When the beef is tender, remove the lid and stir-fry the mixture using a wooden spoon, until  some free oil begins to appear on the sides of the pan.

6. Se adauga mazarea galbena si se amesteca bine cu carnea de vita. Se mai adauga si se amesteca si rosiile, ardeii si coriandrul proaspat tocat / Add the cooked yellow peas to the beef and mix together well. Stir in the tomatoes, chillies and chopped fresh coriander and serve.